Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Miscellany to idly while lazing on a Sunday afternoon split one's infinitives Search Advanced Forum Search Forums Calendar Active Threads

Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread to idly while lazing on a Sunday afternoon split one's infinitives #176514 05/01/08 12:40 AM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd OP Carpal Tunnel OP zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh I was perusing the Wikipedia article on the whole split-infinitive mythos, and I just wanted to share something that two great writers, of fiction and linguistics respectively, had to say:  Quote: By the way, would you convey my compliments to the purist who reads your proofs and tell him or her that I write in a sort of broken-down patois which is something like the way a Swiss-waiter talks, and that when I split an infinitive, God damn it, I split it so it will remain split, and when I interrupt the velvety smoothness of my more or less literate syntax with a few sudden words of barroom vernacular, this is done with the eyes wide open and the mind relaxed and attentive. The method may not be perfect, but it is all I have. (Raymond Chandler to an editor at The Atlantic Monthly.) and  Quote: To is no more an essential part of an infinitive than the definite article is an essential part of a nominative, and no one would think of calling the good man a split nominative. (Otto Jespersen. (1905) Growth and Structure of the English Language.) Ceci n'est pas un seing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: to idly while lazing on a Sunday afternoon split one's infinitives zmjezhd #176516 05/01/08 01:25 AM Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,067 Tasmania The Pook old hand The Pook old hand Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,067 Tasmania  Originally Posted By: zmjezhd  Quote: To is no more an essential part of an infinitive than the definite article is an essential part of a nominative, and no one would think of calling the good man a split nominative. (Otto Jespersen. (1905) Growth and Structure of the English Language.) That's possibly the best anti-prescriptivist argument on the issue of split infinitives I've seen. Certainly shows up the selective nature of prescriptive purism. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: to idly while lazing on a Sunday afternoon split one's infinitives The Pook #176523 05/01/08 07:20 AM Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 390 कहीं &... L latishya enthusiast latishya enthusiast L Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 390 कहीं &... Language Log boldly going where many have gone before. Last edited by latishya; 05/01/08 07:22 AM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: to idly while lazing on a Sunday afternoon split one's infinitives zmjezhd #176524 05/01/08 09:10 AM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague > The method may not be perfect, but it is all I have. (Raymond Chandler to an editor at The Atlantic Monthly.) Whatever his methods; they are perfect. Not only his plots, also his language. Always a great pleasure to read. Of course (to kick-in the open door) what matters most in all art is : "does it work?" Certainly not by blindly following prescriptions, but by minding them as well as finding twists and quirks where needed. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,913 Posts229,316 Members9,182 Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011 Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV 9,182 Registered Users Who's Online Now 0 members (), 428 guests, and 3 robots. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 30 A C Bowden 13 LukeJavan8 1 ddrinnan 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 tsuwm 10,542 wofahulicodoc 10,533 LukeJavan8 9,916 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

Default Style BlackNTan Drab eBay GooG v2 infopop new dark new light original dark original stock rounded corners Slate snow sunny dropshadow theblues Touch Of Grey UBB.threads UBB.threads - Dark UBB.threads - Light UBBCentral UBBCentral - Crimson UBBCentral - Lime UBBCentral - Marshmallow UBBCentral - Mocha UBBCentral - Zen UBBT77 UBBT77 - Dark ubbthreads ubbthreads-dark Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org