We can disagree about whether we need to scrupulously avoid splitting infinitives. Meanwhile, our language is being assaulted in more serious ways. For instance, all my teachers taught me that “they” was a plural pronoun, and to never use it to reference an individual. That was a useful rule, as the reader or listener knew that it referred to two or more individuals. Today, we’re often left confused, when the (formerly) plural pronoun is also used to refer to individuals, who don’t know which sex they are.
I didn’t want to sound like the Grinch, but there are so many abuses of the language, English, which I think is a very beautiful language when used properly.
Many people forget what they are taught, that is, if they were taught correctly in the first place. I’ll allow that kind of misusage, but my gripe this time is, that it was committed by someone whose job it is to know...ta da...proper English. A reporter, columnist, editor, author making mistakes like that is inexcusable.
Using substitute words to accommodate certain idiocies of present day culture, drive me wild. The fact that we are being forced to change our words so that they control the nonsense makes speaking a chore.