Split infinitives occur when a word—usually an adverb—slides between “to” and the verb. Traditional grammarians once frowned on them, but today many writers use them to add clarity, emphasis, or rhythm. Think of “to boldly go” from Star Trek: without the split, it loses punch.

What are Split infinitives?

Split infinitives happen when a word, usually an adverb slides between to and the verb. Instead of saying “to go boldly,” you might say “to boldly go.” Some traditional grammarians once warned writers to avoid them, but today, they’re widely accepted in both casual and professional writing.

Why the fuss? Because language is alive. Rules shift. What sounded “wrong” in the 19th century now often sounds natural. In fact, avoiding split infinitives sometimes creates clunky sentences. Compare:

• She decided to quickly run to the store.
• She decided quickly to run to the store.

100 Split Infinitives Examples

1. to boldly go
2. to quickly run
3. to carefully consider
4. to happily sing
5. to slowly walk
6. to truly understand
7. to gently push
8. to deeply love
9. to eagerly wait
10. to quietly listen
11. to suddenly stop
12. to honestly admit
13. to freely choose
14. to openly discuss
15. to clearly explain
16. to firmly hold
17. to softly whisper
18. to politely ask
19. to warmly smile
20. to lightly touch
21. to quickly learn
22. to slowly fade
23. to proudly stand
24. to boldly act
25. to brightly shine
26. to greatly admire
27. to deeply reflect
28. to sincerely apologize
29. to wildly dance
30. to gently sway
31. to nervously wait
32. to calmly breathe
33. to frequently ask
34. to rarely complain
35. to boldly challenge
36. to truly believe
37. to openly laugh
38. to kindly help
39. to strongly deny
40. to clearly see
41. to quietly work
42. to fully commit
43. to bravely face
44. to quickly adapt
45. to cleverly escape
46. to simply try
47. to gracefully move
48. to slowly heal
49. to firmly decide
50. to warmly welcome
51. to softly cry
52. to cheerfully greet
53. to daringly climb
54. to easily win
55. to badly want
56. to fondly remember
57. to calmly reply
58. to desperately hope
59. to humbly accept
60. to quietly admire
61. to openly confess
62. to clearly notice
63. to plainly state
64. to brightly glow
65. to boldly imagine
66. to wildly dream
67. to passionately create
68. to reluctantly agree
69. to deeply mourn
70. to rarely find
71. to instantly know
72. to strangely feel
73. to gently laugh
74. to slowly discover
75. to firmly grasp
76. to freely explore
77. to strongly believe
78. to boldly resist
79. to easily understand
80. to cheerfully share
81. to brightly paint
82. to carefully choose
83. to fully realize
84. to openly admire
85. to genuinely care
86. to warmly hug
87. to fiercely protect
88. to quietly hide
89. to clearly recognize
90. to bravely defend
91. to boldly speak
92. to instinctively act
93. to openly reveal
94. to truly value
95. to carefully study
96. to eagerly embrace
97. to confidently lead
98. to gently guide
99. to wisely decide
100. to boldly end

Why Writers Use Split Infinitives

1. Clarity – Placing the adverb directly before the verb makes the meaning sharper.
2. Rhythm – It often improves the flow of the sentence.
3. Emphasis – The split allows you to stress the adverb naturally.

Think of “to boldly go” from Star Trek. “To go boldly” works, but it doesn’t hit the same.

Common Misconceptions

Some people still believe split infinitives are “wrong.” This stems from early grammarians trying to model English after Latin—a language where you literally can’t split an infinitive. But English is different, and modern usage guides (like Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary) recognize split infinitives as perfectly valid.

Absolutely! Here’s a set of important, high-value FAQs about split infinitives—these are the kinds of questions readers (and search engines!) care about most:

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1. What is the rule about split infinitives?
Traditionally, writers were told never to split infinitives. Today, most modern grammar guides agree it’s acceptable when it makes writing clearer or smoother.

2. Why were split infinitives considered wrong?
The “rule” came from 19th-century grammarians who tried to model English after Latin, where infinitives are single words and can’t be split.

3. Is it better to avoid split infinitives in formal writing?
In highly traditional contexts, some prefer avoiding them. But in academic, professional, and creative writing, split infinitives are widely accepted.

4. Do split infinitives change the meaning of a sentence?
Yes, sometimes. For example:

• She decided to quickly run (speed emphasized).
• She decided quickly to run (decision emphasized).

5. What are examples of correct split infinitives?
Common ones include: to boldly go, to fully understand, to truly appreciate, to easily adapt, to quietly listen.

6. Can avoiding split infinitives make writing awkward?
Yes. Forcing sentences to follow the old “rule” often makes them clunky or unclear. Splitting is usually more natural.