Grammar Question

[Lioness]

Hi guys,

I've had a grammar/editing assignment...and the problem is that I have to find out why sentences are wrong. I can't just rely on my grammar instinct.

There is one sentence that is stumping me:

"It is prudent to carefully plan your budget"

I'm pretty sure it's an incorrect use of prudent...an adjective acting as a...something? An adjective modifying a noun? But if that's the case, then the sentence isn't wrong.

Is there a name? Am I missing something incredibly obvious?

Thanks

 

[JudeMorrigan]

I suspect that the answer is that the supposed flaw in the sentence is the split infinitive. Now, whether or not split infinitives are genuinely *wrong* is a matter I'd be willing to debate, but I think the assigment is probably wanting you to correct that to "It is prudent to plan your budget carefully".

 

[pygmalion]

Totally agreed, Jude. IMO, the word prudent, as in cautious or planning ahead, is used correctly. The sentence feels off because of the split infinitive. (Good Lord! I never thought I'd use that phrase again! :lol: )

 

[bordertangoman]

I'm pretty sure that you shouldn't use "prudish".

 

[tangotime]

I think the assigment is probably wanting you to correct that to "It is prudent to plan your budget carefully".

As I was reading the statement, that was exactly what was being formulated in my head.

 

[bordertangoman]

As I was reading the statement, that was exactly what was being formulated in my head.

"As I read the statement, that exactly, was being formulated in my head."

 

[mindputtee]

"As I read the statement, that exactly, was being formulated in my head."

That's a joke, right?

 

[bia]

The sentence feels off because of the split infinitive.

Now, whether or not split infinitives are genuinely *wrong* is a matter I'd be willing to debate.

Jude, I'll join your side in the debate (while agreeing with you and everyone else about what the assignment is looking for). The fact that the sentence does not in fact feel off to Lioness -- a highly-educated, well-read, native speaker of English -- indicates to me that splitting infinitives is simply something that speakers of English do, as they have since the introduction of the "to" infinitive marker during Middle English to compensate for the loss of the Old English's infinitive suffix. But I suppose it's a good "rule" to know for formal writing, just in case your writing should be in a position to be judged by someone who cares about it. Better not to distract them from your meaning by giving them a grammatical nit to pick.

 

[fascination]

I suspect that the answer is that the supposed flaw in the sentence is the split infinitive. Now, whether or not split infinitives are genuinely *wrong* is a matter I'd be willing to debate, but I think the assigment is probably wanting you to correct that to "It is prudent to plan your budget carefully".

this was my thought as well

 

[pygmalion]

Exactly, bia. Formal writing is a completely different critter than informal writing. I don't think it's a question of right versus wrong, at least not IRL. For the purposes of L's assignment, though, I think Jude hit the nail on the head.

Would I worry about split infinitives in normal daily conversation or in informal settings like DF? Probably not. Would I worry about them, if I were taking a university-level grammar course? Absolutely.

 

[j_alexandra]

lol


In any case, I think we need ChaChaMamma here.

I"ll have to be the token College English Professor (lapsed) here, and say definitively: split infinitive.

 

[bordertangoman]

Hi guys,

I've had a grammar/editing assignment...and the problem is that I have to find out why sentences are wrong. I can't just rely on my grammar instinct.

There is one sentence that is stumping me:

"It is prudent to carefully plan your budget"

I'm pretty sure it's an incorrect use of prudent...an adjective acting as a...something? An adjective modifying a noun? But if that's the case, then the sentence isn't wrong.

Is there a name? Am I missing something incredibly obvious?

Thanks

or do the reverse and translate it into Yodaish:

"Carefully, your budget, you must plan. Prudent it is."

 

[madmaximus]

"In those days men were real men, women were real women, small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri.

And all dared to brave unknown terrors, to do mighty deeds, to boldly split infinitives that no man had split before - and thus was the Empire forged."








m

 

[j_alexandra]

"in those days men were real men, women were real women, small furry creatures from alpha centauri were real small furry creatures from alpha centauri.

And all dared to brave unknown terrors, to do mighty deeds, to boldly split infinitives that no man had split before - and thus was the empire forged."

m

lololol

 

[JudeMorrigan]

Would I worry about them, if I were taking a university-level grammar course? Absolutely.

I'd be tempted not to out of sheer curmudgeonliness. Dagnabbit, if split infinitives were good enough for John Donne and Abraham Lincoln, they're good enough for me!

Seriously though, although I have a dog-eared copy of Strunk and White myself, it's not the only style guide out there. One doesn't have to look terribly hard to find one's that suggest the admonition against splitting infinitives to be somewhat overstated. That is not, of course, to say that one shouldn't do what is necessary to get a decent grade in a given class.