atw: Re: "50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice"

As you have quoted, I wrote:

"but 
     if 
       the critique says that split infinitives
               are all right ... " 

I would have thought "if" does cover the "suggestion" 
contained in the email below.

I would have thought that the subject of the article
in question, "50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice", is 
abusive. The tenor of the article is often aggressive. 

The article in question -
(http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i32/32b01501.htm) -
refers to the "bossiness" of the authors of EOS
when discussing their view on split infinitives. A 
reason he gives is that placing the adverb in split 
infinitives de-emphasises the adverb (contrary to earlier 
replies I have received stating that it emphasises the 
adverb). It also states that split infinitives have
always been grammatical.

I would have thought that the email below is similarly
somewhat aggressive - are there some rules about 
this(?). 

--- On Thu, 16/4/09, Peter Martin <peterm_5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Peter Martin <peterm_5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: atw: Re: "50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice"
> To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Received: Thursday, 16 April, 2009, 6:35 PM
> Ken Randall:
> You wrote:
> >
> > I have read neither the original grammar book nor
> > Pullum's critique, but if the critique says that
> > split infinitives are all right, then it is the
> > critique which is mistaken.
> >
> 
> I'd suggest you read what is said before you jump to
> that conclusion, and don't at least consider the
> examples which Pullum gives and his reasoning (as well as
> his supporting authorities) for saying the rule against
> split infinitives is 
> 
> Always useful thing to do -- find out what you're
> arguing about in the first place, and consider contrary
> opinions if they are as easily available as a  click on a
> url. 
> 
> 
> -Peter M 
>  peterm_5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
>    
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