[Ads-l] Further Antedating of "Split Infinitive"

[Ben Zimmer]

Previously shared by Fred in 2008.

https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2008-December/086574.html

On Thu, Nov 24, 2022 at 4:48 PM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:

> split infinitive (OED 1897)
>
> Wikipedia has the following:
>
> "Reviews: A Novel in Journalese"<
> https://books.google.com/books?id=94oeAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA439>. The Scots
> Observer. IV (95): 489. September 13, 1890. Retrieved 2018-04-27. The split
> infinitive ('to solemnly curse') is a captain jewel in the carcanet
> [referring to 'gems' of a novel's grammar].
>
> Fred Shapiro
>

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