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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
A split infinitive
Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" by the Canadian playwright George Ryga (*1932). The play was first performed in 1967. On page 41 I came across a so-called "split infinitive":
The WITNESSES do not see her and the testimony takes on the air of a nightmare for RITA JOE. She is baffled and afraid. The TEACHER continues to quietly repeat her testimony. RITA JOE appeals to the MAGISTRATE.
I have already read the FAQ and some postings concerning the split infinitive, and I also know that actually there is no such thing as a split infinitive. But I am interested in what you think about "to quietly repeat". Is it a ´necessary´ split infinitive? Are there alternatives to this phrase, considering the fact that some grammarians think the split infinitive should be avoided whenever possible?
Best regards Bente
The WITNESSES do not see her and the testimony takes on the air of a nightmare for RITA JOE. She is baffled and afraid. The TEACHER continues to quietly repeat her testimony. RITA JOE appeals to the MAGISTRATE.
I have already read the FAQ and some postings concerning the split infinitive, and I also know that actually there is no such thing as a split infinitive. But I am interested in what you think about "to quietly repeat". Is it a ´necessary´ split infinitive? Are there alternatives to this phrase, considering the fact that some grammarians think the split infinitive should be avoided whenever possible?
Best regards Bente
Top answer
[nq:1]Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" by the Canadian playwright George Ryga (*1932). The play was ... [/nq] There are always alternatives (so in that sense no split infinitive is literally "necessary").
- [nq:1]Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" by the Canadian playwright George Ryga (*1932).
- The play was ...
- [/nq] There are always alternatives (so in that sense no split infinitive is literally "necessary").
- Sometimes the alternatives come easily, and sometimes they require extensive rewriting.
- " I like the third best.
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133 Answers
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[nq:1]Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" by the Canadian playwright George Ryga (*1932). The play was ... there alternatives to this phrase, considering the fact that some grammarians think the split infinitive should be avoided whenever possible?[/nq]
There are always alternatives (so in that sense no split infinitive is literally "necessary"). Sometimes the alternatives come e
There are always alternatives (so in that sense no split infinitive is literally "necessary"). Sometimes the alternatives come e
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(Email Removed) (Bente) wrote on 08 Jan 2004:
[nq:1]Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" by the Canadian playwright George Ryga (*1932). The play was ... postings concerning the split infinitive, and I also know that actually there is no such thing as a split infinitive.[/nq]
Ah, but there are. You've found one and it is definitely a split infinitive.
[nq:1]But I am intere
[nq:1]Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" by the Canadian playwright George Ryga (*1932). The play was ... postings concerning the split infinitive, and I also know that actually there is no such thing as a split infinitive.[/nq]
Ah, but there are. You've found one and it is definitely a split infinitive.
[nq:1]But I am intere
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[nq:1]Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" by the Canadian playwright George Ryga (*1932). The play was ... there alternatives to this phrase, considering the fact that some grammarians think the split infinitive should be avoided whenever possible?[/nq]
Are there really any living grammarians who say this? The split infinitive is a dead issue.
Adrian
Are there really any living grammarians who say this? The split infinitive is a dead issue.
Adrian
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[nq:2]Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" ... grammarians think the split infinitive should be avoided whenever possible?[/nq]
[nq:1]Are there really any living grammarians who say this? The split infinitive is a dead issue.[/nq]
I'd draw a distinction here between grammarians, whatever those are, and editors and publishers, many of whom would take an easily corrected yet unc
[nq:1]Are there really any living grammarians who say this? The split infinitive is a dead issue.[/nq]
I'd draw a distinction here between grammarians, whatever those are, and editors and publishers, many of whom would take an easily corrected yet unc
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Thus spake Jody Bilyeu:
[nq:2]Are there really any living grammarians who say this? The split infinitive is a dead issue.[/nq]
[nq:1]I'd draw a distinction here between grammarians, whatever those are, and editors and publishers, many of whom would take an easily corrected yet uncorrected split infinitive as a sign of poor proofreading or writerly incompetence.[/nq]
"Corrected"/ "uncor
[nq:2]Are there really any living grammarians who say this? The split infinitive is a dead issue.[/nq]
[nq:1]I'd draw a distinction here between grammarians, whatever those are, and editors and publishers, many of whom would take an easily corrected yet uncorrected split infinitive as a sign of poor proofreading or writerly incompetence.[/nq]
"Corrected"/ "uncor
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"Jody Bilyeu" (Email Removed) wrote on 08 Jan 2004:
[nq:1]I'd draw a distinction here between grammarians, whatever those are, and editors and publishers, many of whom would take an easily corrected yet uncorrected split infinitive as a sign of poor proofreading or writerly incompetence.[/nq]
The editors and publishers to whom I send the medical articles I edit are by and large accepting o
[nq:1]I'd draw a distinction here between grammarians, whatever those are, and editors and publishers, many of whom would take an easily corrected yet uncorrected split infinitive as a sign of poor proofreading or writerly incompetence.[/nq]
The editors and publishers to whom I send the medical articles I edit are by and large accepting o
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[nq:1]Thus spake Jody Bilyeu:[/nq]
[nq:2]I'd draw a distinction here between grammarians, whatever those are, ... infinitive as a sign of poor proofreading or writerly incompetence.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Corrected"/ "uncorrected" implies that there is something wrong with splitting an infinitive. Competent editors wouldn't correct something that is not ... Editors who correct something like a split
[nq:2]I'd draw a distinction here between grammarians, whatever those are, ... infinitive as a sign of poor proofreading or writerly incompetence.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Corrected"/ "uncorrected" implies that there is something wrong with splitting an infinitive. Competent editors wouldn't correct something that is not ... Editors who correct something like a split
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[nq:1]The editors and publishers to whom I send the medical articles I edit are by and large accepting of the ... exercising" (9th ed., p. 193, 5.8.5), a split infinitive can be clearer than an alternative structure with an unsplit infinitive.[/nq]
Yes, they sometimes certainly can be clearer, which is such a far cry from saying that "the split infinitive is a dead issue" that I thought I'd pi
Yes, they sometimes certainly can be clearer, which is such a far cry from saying that "the split infinitive is a dead issue" that I thought I'd pi
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"Jody Bilyeu" (Email Removed) wrote on 08 Jan 2004:
[nq:1]Yes, they sometimes certainly can be clearer, which is such a far cry from saying that "the split infinitive is ... on to say (or more likely, begin with) something like, "if it's no skin off your meaning, unsplit your infinitives"?[/nq]
No. It offered a rewrite for those who don't like to split infinitives, but it generally agrees
[nq:1]Yes, they sometimes certainly can be clearer, which is such a far cry from saying that "the split infinitive is ... on to say (or more likely, begin with) something like, "if it's no skin off your meaning, unsplit your infinitives"?[/nq]
No. It offered a rewrite for those who don't like to split infinitives, but it generally agrees
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[nq:1]The editors and publishers to whom I send the medical articles I edit are by and large accepting of the ... they are denied positions of power over linguistic expression other than their own. Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.[/nq]
It is the nature of such beliefs. Martin Gardner is convinced that new Freudians and Jungians will come along, just as some young people will once again ta
It is the nature of such beliefs. Martin Gardner is convinced that new Freudians and Jungians will come along, just as some young people will once again ta
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