Here's an update on the splitting. I asked an editor about it and the response was "Probably to avoid splitting the verbs." This is a new one on me. I checked some online grammar sites and Strunk and White. I found no prescription against splitting verbs.
However, a Google search for "slitting verbs" revealed these two sites (and possibly more--I got tired.)
Professor Johnston at Dickinson College has a list of pet peeves for papers. It includes:
S.I.--split infinitive. An old fashioned grammar "rule" but still has currency for elegant writers. "To boldly go" remains the most notorious of split infinitives--"to go boldly" or "boldly to go" just isn't the same. Use your discretion when splitting the "helper" from the main verb--splitting verbs can confuse.
And The Tongue Untied at the University of Oregon had this to say:
Split verbs lead to incoherence. In most cases, it is best to keep auxiliary verbs next to the main verb and to avoid splitting infinitives.
- The students who have been, for more than a week, waiting for tickets were disappointed with the news.
- The burglar was, as far as the detectives could determine, hiding somewhere in the building.
But these are whole phrases inbetween the helping verb and main verb. I'm talking about a simple adverb!
Here is one of the sentences that offended my editor:
It may also be wise to have your doctor give you a physical.
The suggested "correction" is:
It also may be wise to have your doctor give you a physical.
which sounds like ass to me.
So there are a some people who find splitting a helping verb from a main verb is incoherent. I don't get what that means. But if they have their way, we could see emergence of a new prescriptive rule. I will, however, continue to stet these changes.
4 comments:
just out of curiosity, what is "stet"?
"Stet" means to let stand. It's one of those proofreader's marks. You use it to tell people to ignore a change that someone else has marked on a manuscript.
Stetting is also a wonderful power afforded to copywriters. It's like the presidential veto. The editor says to change something and you just say "stet'! Very cool.
I should have glossed that one! I forgot not everyone deals with manuscripts and revisions.
thanks! you'd think with all the technical writers/editors i know/am related to i would have picked that up somewhere before ;)
It totally agree. "It also may ..." is not how people speak. You only find that on the pages of the NY Times.
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