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Are split infinitives grammatically incorrect, or are they valid constructs?

Is it allowed to use split infinitives in formal English? I look into Wikipedia but it is too objective and it doesn't directly say that I can use it formally. Is split infinitives grammatical?

from Wikipedia:


In some cases, moving the adverbial creates an ungrammatical sentence or changes the meaning. R.L. Trask uses this example:

  • She decided to gradually get rid of the teddy bears she had collected.
    "Gradually" splits the infinitive "to get". However, if the adverb were moved, where could it go?

  • She decided gradually to get rid of the teddy bears she had collected.
    This might imply that the decision was gradual.

  • She decided to get rid of the teddy bears she had collected gradually.
    This implies that the collecting process was gradual.

  • She decided to get gradually rid of the teddy bears she had collected.
    This sounds awkward, as it splits the phrase "get rid of".

  • She decided to get rid gradually of the teddy bears she had collected.
    This is almost as unwieldy as its immediate predecessor.

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marked as duplicate by jwpat7, nohat Jul 30 '12 at 5:27


Note, some of the duplicate questions mention an oxforddictionaries page that says they are grammatically ok, then backpeddles with "some people do object" and "it’s safest to avoid split infinitives in formal writing, unless the alternative wording seems very clumsy or would alter the meaning of your sentence." –  jwpat7 Jul 30 '12 at 5:25
There is no official organization that decides what is and isn't "allowed" in "formal English". –  nohat Jul 30 '12 at 5:29

1 Answer 1

It is perfectly fine as long as it isn't awkward, uncomfortable usage. As those examples point out, using split infinitives is often the only way of conveying your message accurately, and this criterion trumps everything else.

It should be acceptable for formal writing and you can confirm this to an extent by sifting through Google Books or a suitable corpus.

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