Q.
I have objected to stupid grammar rules in the past, but I try to follow them nonetheless. I find it irritating to be forced to follow rules of Latin grammar when I am writing in English. In particular, I find the rule regarding split infinitives to be frustrating and limiting. Wending my way now to my question, could you recommend to me a scholarly work which clearly explains why these rules are artificial and that they are derived from inappropriately forcing English to follow Latin grammatical rules?
A.
I sympathize with you in your objection to stupid grammar rules.Here are several books that deal with many of these rules. All of them talk about split infinitives:
Lapsing Into a Comma by Bill Walsh, Contemporary Books
Word Court by Barbara Wallraff, Harcourt
Woe Is I by Patricia T. O'Conner, Grosset/Putnam.
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