Split Infinitives

Jeff, 

I grew up splitting infinitives left and right.  In university, I had a number of professors who quickly pounded that habit out of my writing.  Now, however, I have seen and read numerous articles about how it is a grammar myth that splitting infinitives is bad.  Many articles point out that not splitting infinitives is a rule borrowed from the grammar of Latin and that, in English grammar, there is no reason not to do so.

I really like what  our friend Grammar Girl has to say about Grammar myths.

My personal opinion, and that which I share with my students, is that splitting an infinitive and breaking the grammar myths are fine when you are in a informal setting or you know that the grammar expectations of your audience do not demand complete infinitives.  If, however, you are in a new professional setting or an academic setting, you should take care not to break such rules so that you do not set a bad impression if your professor or new boss still follows these more traditional rules.

In the end, these rules should still be taught, but with the understanding that they are falling out of use.