What are split infinitives?

What is an infinitive?

First, we’ll give you a refresher on what an infinitive is. A quick way to identify an infinitive is to find a verb that follows the word “to.” Infinitives can work together as a noun, adjective, or adverb. Some examples include:

• I am getting something to eat for lunch.
• They want to plan something for their day off.
• He is looking forward to hearing from you.

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What does a split infinitive look like?

A split infinitive is exactly what it sounds like—when a word is splitting up an infinitive. Some examples of split infinitives include:

• He wants to carefully examine the evidence.
• She wants to completely forget what happened.
• I’m hoping to really enjoy this movie with everyone.

Notice how each bolded word in the sentences above is in between “to” and a verb. However, split infinitives aren’t always the way to go. While each sentence makes sense, the bolded words can be relocated to make the sentence flow better. For instance, “I’m hoping to really enjoy this movie with everyone” can be rewritten as “I’m really hoping to enjoy this movie with everyone.”

Are split infinitives allowed in formal writing?

There’s a lot of discourse regarding whether a split infinitive is appropriate or not for formal writing. However, many style guides including the Chicago Manual of Style are in favor of using these grammatical devices. When used correctly, a split infinitive can bring emphasis to a point and make the sentence clearer.

Here are some examples where a split infinitive is used correctly:

• When dealing with a stressful situation, his initial instinct is to immediately remove himself from the area.
• They were instructed to thoroughly read the notes.
• Follow these safety steps to properly prepare yourself for a tornado.

In the third example shown above, the word “properly” is splitting the infinitive by going in between the words “to” and “prepare.” “Properly” makes the most sense as a split infinitive and does not quite fit anywhere else in the sentence.

Not sure if you’re using a split infinitive correctly? Online grammar tools like Microsoft Editor can take a second look to identify phrases that might sound awkward. Explore more writing tips to help you become a better writer.