Split infinitive

Are split infinitives considered incorrect? What is a ‘split infinitive’? The answer to the first question is, yes. They are correct, although some hard-core grammarians don’t consider them to be correct, however, in today’s society they are abundantly used without issue.

Secondly, a ‘split infinitive’ is formed when an adverb or an adverbial phrase is inserted between the word ‘to‘ and the ‘verb‘.

For example,

• To boldly go where no one else has.
• To finely tune your engine.
• To kindly illustrate.

Examples of the split infinitive

• To carefully write an article, you need to sit down and spend some time.
• I would like you to nicely tell us about yourself.
• He would get up and tell us to calmly speak about the problem.
• To promptly arrive is important.
• I expect you to slowly move the price up.

As cited above, the split infinitive only consists in inserting an adverb or an adverbial phrase between ‘to’ and the ‘verb’. Examples to follow. 

See also