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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;-jeffB, post: 3228340, member: 27832&quot;]The little-minded ones were those saying that a split infinitive <i>can&#039;t</i> be correct, because it&#039;s impossible to split infinitives in Latin. The small-mindedness isn&#039;t in thinking one should teach proper English -- it&#039;s in thinking that proper English must ape proper Latin.</p><p><br /></p><p>A split infinitive is frequently <i>clearer</i> and <i>more concise</i>. I argue that that should <i>make</i> it right. (Living language, you know; we don&#039;t <i>need</i> to be bound by the strictures of previous centuries.)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>There&#039;s some truly dreadful writing out there, isn&#039;t there? I was lucky enough to write my dissertation under advisors who valued clarity above tradition. I was unlucky enough to work <i>briefly</i> for a scientist who criticized writing for &quot;not sounding scientific enough&quot; -- apparently he couldn&#039;t take a document seriously if it didn&#039;t use passive voice. He left before I could persuade him otherwise.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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