Dramatically learning opportunities

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Athel Cornish-Bowden - 29 Apr 2008 18:35 GMT

Do we all agree with Geoffrey Pullum (I do):

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=100#more-100

Signature

athel

Reply to this Message

Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 29 Apr 2008 19:12 GMT

>Do we all agree with Geoffrey Pullum (I do):
>
>http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=100#more-100

I do.

"...to increase dramatically learning opportunities for
Harvard undergraduates..."

"dramatically" needs to be moved to avoid confusion over what it
qualifies, unless a small word is inserted:

"...to increase dramatically the learning opportunities for
Harvard undergraduates..."

I'm not suggesting this as a preferred solution.

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

Reply to this Message

Robert Lieblich - 30 Apr 2008 00:28 GMT

> >Do we all agree with Geoffrey Pullum (I do):
> >
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> I'm not suggesting this as a preferred solution.

Pullum lays it on quite thick in his LL posting, but he's right: there
is no sanction for barring the "split infinitive." I suppose there's
nothing wrong with writing around one -- if you don't make things
worse, that is. It's like Shaw never[1] starting a sentence with
"and." As long as you can write well enough to indulge your crotchets
without being caught in the act, all is well. But when you write
things like the phrase quoted from the Harvard announcement you
deserve all the scorn Pullum can heap on you.

[1] I know, I know -- never say never. So let me say instead that
I've never found a sentence-opening "and" in GBS. And I've been
looking.

Signature

Bob Lieblich, AmEclectic
Intentional tourist

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / English Usage / April 2008

Dramatically learning opportunities