Language Fundamentals

Split Infinitives

When to boldly split infinitives and when to avoid it.

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What & why

What it is
An infinitive split occurs when an adverb sits between to and the base verb, as in to carefully review. Long discouraged by tradition, it is fully acceptable in modern English and is often the clearest, most natural placement, keeping the adverb tight to the verb it modifies. Forcing the adverb elsewhere to avoid the split can blur emphasis or create awkward phrasing, so the deciding factor is clarity and flow, not the old rule.
Why it works

Where you place an adverb relative to the verb controls which word carries the stress and how naturally the line tracks for a listener. Dropping the adverb between to and the verb often puts emphasis exactly where the meaning lives and matches how people actually speak, so it reads as fluent. Contorting the sentence to avoid the split tends to move the adverb somewhere ambiguous or stilted, adding a small processing snag that pulls attention to the phrasing instead of the idea.

Before & after

Before

“We decided carefully to review the proposal”

After

“We decided to carefully review the proposal”

When you’ll use it

Mission statements: "We aim to boldly innovate" vs "We aim to innovate boldly" (both acceptable)

Performance goals: "Strive to consistently deliver" vs "Strive to deliver consistently" (emphasis differs)

Training objectives: "Learn to effectively communicate" vs "Learn to communicate effectively" (natural flow)

Strategic planning: "Plan to carefully execute" vs "Plan to execute carefully" (clarity of meaning)

Pro tip

Split when clarity or rhythm improves; avoid when it sounds clunky.

Questions & answers

What are split infinitives and should I avoid them?

Split infinitives place words between 'to' and the verb ('to boldly go'). While traditionally discouraged, they're often acceptable and sometimes necessary for clarity. Modern business writing prioritizes clear communication over rigid rules.

When are split infinitives acceptable in business communication?

Split infinitives are acceptable when they improve clarity, sound natural, or when avoiding them creates awkward phrasing. 'To really understand the data' is clearer than 'really to understand the data.' Prioritize clear communication over old rules.

How do I decide whether to split an infinitive?

Choose based on clarity and naturalness. If avoiding the split creates awkward or unclear phrasing, split the infinitive. If you can avoid it naturally without losing meaning, do so. Focus on effective communication rather than outdated grammar rules.

Learn more

Encyclopedia.com - Split Infinitive (Oxford reference works)
Purdue OWL - Infinitives (Split Infinitives section)
Northern Illinois University - Effective Writing Practices (Split Infinitives)

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