Not to like seeing so many split infinitives in AIBU?

[SomethingOnce]

Most negative AIBUs begin, 'To not'.

If at least one other person is with me on this, I'll sleep a little easier.

(And don't bother directing me to Pedants' Corner.)

An artificial rule imposed in Victorian times by grammarians who reasoned that as it is not possible to split an infinitive in Latin, then the same should apply to English despite the fact it is perfectly possible to do so. Just like not ending a sentence with a preposition. All Latin snobbery.

I was crap at Latin, MrsTP.

But now I rather want to learn it. Wonder what the chances are that I'll be crap at it again?

I was terrible at languages until I lived abroad. They are so simple when you are living there. Do you have a time machine? That would be the easiest way...

I agree with OP. I know that technically it's not supposed to be wrong, but it invariably sounds ugly, and it's very easy to avoid. The poster who suggested it has more euphony is just mistaken. How can you possibly suggest that "to not like" sounds better than "to dislike"?

Good link danger I have never understood it either.
I do this all the time...

I will pay more attention from now on. or see which sounds best and ignore it maybe too

Yanbu, I find the whole subject absolutely fascinating.

Goady thread for the OP:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1349530-to-deliberately-split-an-infinitive-in-a-thread-title?pg=1

Split infinitive: rule made up by a stuffy white man in a stuffy white shirt who thought he was 'educated'

I was sitting: Northern dialectical variation on use of the verb. Deemed non standard by stuffy white man in stuffy white shirt who thought he was 'educated'

Standard English used as a tool with which to perpetuate class systems and a feeling of superiority.

MrsFrisbyMouse my mental image is a bunch of Etonians sitting around braying about 'the Plebs' because they fail to grasp Latin. Possible mild inverted snobbery on my part.

I think a split infinitive can be stylistically appealing if used well.

I was sat/I was stood on the other hand make me weep for humanity.

surfsup I met an adult Euphony about 20 years ago and very charming he was too

Nothing wrong with split infinitives, although I agree that in almost all cases they're easily avoided if you do dislike them.

I was sat is fine as local vernacular btw. On the BBC news, radio, in newspapers etc it is fast replacing correct usage.

I think it's relevant to make a distinction between stylistic choice (split infinitive, Oxford comma, ending a sentence with a preposition) and a grammatical error (they're/their/there or it's/its). I would include fewer/less in the latter category.

My pet hate is the overuse of the reflexive pronoun. If you do it in my hearing, you might just find yourself getting a slap.

but firstofhername that is a perfectly correct usage of the reflexive pronoun! But I do agree - telesales people love to say...'ms baudelaire, it that yourself? - oh you are being rude to myself' LOL.

As for the split infinitives, to quote Raymond Chandler, goddammit when I split an infinitive, I split it so it stays split!

Yes, I was trying to demonstrate one of the few times it's acceptable to use it. I couldn't bring myself to use it randomly, as some of my colleagues do.

oh God yes it is truly dreadful, I so agree!
I even tried to mention it to a telesales person once but she said she did not know what myself was talking about.

I wouldn't suggest that every infinitive should be split Icimoi but to say that it invariably sounds ugly and easy to avoid is nonsense. The 'rule' about split infinitives appears to have been made up, as others have stated, in Victorian times. This gives some good examples of when it sounds better and makes the meaning clearer

Showy, at least you accept that "I was sat" is not correct usage.

after a while it will be though, if enough people use it.
That is because there is no language academy for English as there is for French for example.
that is one reason why English is such a successful world language.

The main reason you wouldn't want to be redirected to Pedants' Corner is that there are some knowledgeable people there who will confirm that banning the split infinitive is nonsense.

Comprehensive analysis here:
stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/to-helpfully-clarify-to-better-communicate-a-history-of-the-split-infinitive/

The simplest refutation are sentences where you can't avoid a split infinitive:
Money was available to more than offset the losses.
To almost succeed is not enough.

I struggle with that argument for I was sat/sitting because they don't actually mean the same thing!

I don't particularly like the Scottish way of saying "It needs finished" rather than "It needs to be finished", but at least it doesn't completely alter the meaning of the sentence.

I'm not advocating a blanket ban on split infinitives.

But I maintain that (AIBU):

Not to like my Christmas presents?

is more euphonic than

To not like my Christmas presents?

In the example you give: yes, more euphonic.

In everyday situations: complete bollocks, unless you're a deeply confused Roman time traveller. I secretly admire most pedantry, but twisting oneself into linguistic knots to avoid splitting an infinitive is the mark of an arse.