Split infinitives

[Santosh]

Is Split infinitive always wrong in GMAT?

E.g.
If present metal prices continue to sharply rise, the value of the copper in a penny will soon be greater than the face value of the coin.

is it wrong :

to sharply rise

other examples are :
to quickly leave
to boldly go


Thanking you in advance.

[esledge]

The GMAT will not use a split infinitive in a correct answer. For that matter, I can't recall any examples that have a split infinitive in a wrong answer, so this doesn't seem to be an issue tested by the GMAT. But you can't go wrong by avoiding the split infinitive.

Thus, correct phrasing for your examples would be:
to rise sharply
to leave quickly
to go boldly

[achalla.venu]

While solving OG12, SC#3, I came across an answer option (D): it was not almost until 1900 when scholars and critics began to seriously study.
Though not almost until 1900 is incorrect, as mentioned in the OG solution, I think that to seriously study in the answer clause is also not right. Why have the experts from OG chose not to mention it is another question.

[krishnan.anju1987]

I guess Split infinitive like this are right. We seem to use it in daily language

eg. I am going to completely crush him in the next match.
I need you all to really do well in the exam.

But still I have not come across many examples of split infinitives in GMAT. Wonder why.

[tim]

just because you use something in everyday language does not make it acceptable to the GMAT. as far as why the GMAT did not mention this in their explanation to #3, that happens all the time. you should definitely not rely on the OG explanations to tell you EVERYTHING that's wrong with an answer choice; they often only write just enough to justify eliminating an answer..

[sharma.vybhav]

Some Historical Low down on the Split Infinitive

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-cult ... 40351.html

Source: Smithsonian magazine, February 2013

Historically, you can and the Shakespears,Wordsworth have been spliting the Infinitive but on the GMAT dont even think about it.

[tim]

thanks. in general, you won't need to waste your time studying this topic, because the GMAT doesn't seem to test it..