Which of these is technically correct?

Hi Anon

Both are correct, but the second one would be the usual word order.

"I'm going out now." => This is an ordinary statement.

"I'm now going out." => This suggests to me that you might be announcing the current step or activity in a series of ongoing activities. Perhaps you are illustrating for others how something is done by doing it yourself a

Thanks for the reply. I have a friend who always says "I'm now going out." which just sounds wrong to me. I don't know why though. Almost feels like a split infinitive or something.

Thanks again.

Hi Anon

The usual placement of "now" would be at the end of that sentence. Though it is possible to use the word "now" in mid-sentence, there would generally have to be a specific/special reason for doing so. I tried go give you an example of a "special" context. If your friend uses the sentence "I am now going out" in all contexts, then I'm not surprised that it sounds "wrong" to you. I

I just wish it were actually wrong. That way I'd have a reason for telling her to stop...

With regards to the split infinitive idea, if the sentence were "to now go out." then it would be a split infinitive, yes? So, does a plit infinitive actually have to use the word 'to'?

Thanks.

Edit: I know that 'going' is not the infinitive but it still feels like something is being split...

Hmm.

I hate to break this to you, but those old rules about never splitting an infinitive have gone the way of never ending a sentence with a preposition - though at least the first one probably did exist at one time.

It's more natural, if simply making a statement, to use "now" at the end, just as Yankee said, but nothing is WRONG with it as she uses it. Nor is "Now, I am going out a proble

AnonymousAlmost feels like a split infinitive

Yes. Feels like it. But isn't!

CJ

Well now I'm all sad.

Thanks for the replies.