For decades, writers have been warned not to split infinitives as if it were a cardinal sin of grammar. The phrase ‘to boldly go’ (made famous by Star Trek) has sparked endless debate. But here’s the truth: splitting an infinitive is not only acceptable—it’s often the clearest, most natural option.
First, what is a split infinitive? It occurs when a word—typically an adverb—is placed between ‘to’ and the base form of a verb. For example, in ‘to carefully examine’, the word ‘carefully’ splits the infinitive ‘to examine’.
The myth that this is wrong stems from comparisons to Latin grammar. In Latin, an infinitive is a single word, so it physically cannot be split. Some early grammarians tried to apply Latin rules to English, even though the languages function very differently. As a result, generations of English speakers were told to avoid split infinitives at all costs.
But modern linguists and editors agree: there is nothing inherently wrong with splitting an infinitive. In fact, avoiding it can sometimes make a sentence sound awkward or overly formal. Consider the difference between ‘She decided to gradually reduce her hours’ and ‘She decided gradually to reduce her hours’. The first version flows more naturally and clearly communicates the intended meaning.
Good writing prioritises clarity, tone and rhythm—not outdated rules. If splitting an infinitive makes your sentence clearer, smoother or more precise, go ahead and do it.
The goal is effective communication, not rigid rule-following. Trust your ear, and remember that language evolves to meet the needs of its users, not the other way around.