What is a split infinitive. ELI5

[Billy Beer]

I googled it, I still don't get it.

 

[Pargon]

It’s a “to [verb]” phrase separated by another word.

“to boldly go”

“to better pursue”

Etc.

 

[DerKryptid]

Lexico has a good article explaining it
https://www.lexico.com/grammar/split-infinitives

 

[Billy Beer]

Why are people so autistic about it? I don't see the big deal

 

[Knight of the Rope]

Why are people so autistic about it? I don't see the big deal

I find that nobody cares about absurd grammar rules like that too much, and those that do are specifically paid to care.

Split your infinitives and start/end sentences with prepositions, it's all good.

 

[Pargon]

Why are people so autistic about it? I don't see the big deal

They shouldn’t be unless they’re doing peer review or proofreading a professional memo. To many ears including mine split infinitives “sound” better than the grammatically correct arrangement. It’s a stylistic aspect of writing imo and not deserving of critique in non-academic writing.

Academic writing has all sorts of gay rules about it and I’m having anger flashbacks over it already.

 

[DerKryptid]

Why are people so autistic about it? I don't see the big deal

Art degree + being MaTI that they can't get hired/career fulfilment

 

[Uncle Sid]

those that do are specifically paid to care.

Hey, that's me!

Art degree + being MaTI that they can't get hired/career fulfilment

Yeah. I used to make $300 an hour doing it, now it's more like $25.

Fucking internet.

 

[JULAY]

Why are people so autistic about it? I don't see the big deal

Because some faggot in the 16th or so century decided that it wasn't "proper" and his descendant faggot autists pretend that it's an immutable rule of the English language.