split infinitive with "not" (1862)

[Amy West]

Perhaps it is for emphasis. But also perhaps notionally the action in
mind is "not come", that is "stay away"....

---Amy West

>Date:    Tue, 5 Feb 2008 08:25:47 -0800
>From:    Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
>Subject: split infinitive with "not" (1862)
>
>1862 in Bell I. Wiley _The Life of Johnny Reb_ (Indianapolis:
>Bobbs-Merrill, 1943) 127: I still advise you and as strongly as ever
>to not come to the war. I tell you you will repent it if you do I do
>believe.
>
>   Perhaps the feature originated as an emphatic form.  This
>letter-writer was fom Alabama.
>
>   JL

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