Split Infinitive - Help Please
Split Infinitive - Help Please
Author
Discussion

budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

160 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
"I read your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive with interest"

or

"I read with interest your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive"

Having read the Wikipedia explanation, and even taking into account "to boldly go" I'm none the wiser.

I quite fancy the job but they do want someone who can write...

Rowley Birkin

28,176 posts

253 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
budfox said:
"I read your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive with interest"

or

"I read with interest your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive"

Having read the Wikipedia explanation, and even taking into account "to boldly go" I'm none the wiser.

I quite fancy the job but they do want someone who can write...
"I read with interest your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive"

budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

160 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
Thank you.

a7x88

795 posts

179 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
I (probably incorrectly!) understood that only an adverb placed specifically after a "to" and before the infinitive would be defined as a split infinitive?

Higgs boson

1,105 posts

184 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
Or ...
"I read, with interest, your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive"

budfox

Original Poster:

1,510 posts

160 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
Higgs boson said:
Or ...
"I read, with interest, your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive"
I always think that using so many commas is a bit clumsy.

Sticks.

9,725 posts

282 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
As it was explained to me, 'I read' is the infinitive, you'd be splitting it by putting anything in between.

I'm not sure it matter that much really these days.

RobinOakapple

2,802 posts

143 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
Why choose such an awkward phrase in the first place? The interest is understood, why else would you be writing?

If you are applying for a job, say so.

Blackpuddin

19,568 posts

236 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
What Mr Oakapple said. If I received an application for this type of creative job that started with "I read with interest" or anything like it I'm afraid I'd bin it. Reads like something a 1930s bank manager would write. Mind you, an ability to write doesn't seem that crucial in the marketing biz these days. irked PS It's not a split infinitive, so don't mention that in the interview.

Liszt

4,337 posts

301 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
Sticks. said:
As it was explained to me, 'I read' is the infinitive, you'd be splitting it by putting anything in between.

I'm not sure it matter that much really these days.
"to read" is the infinitive.

So "I want you to quickly read this" is splitting the infinitive and should be "I want you to read this quickly"



LordGrover

34,189 posts

243 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
RobinOakapple said:
Why choose such an awkward phrase in the first place? The interest is understood, why else would you be writing?

If you are applying for a job, say so.
I agree.
Anyway, splitting infinitives is largely accepted today. Too few even realize it was ever an issue. wink

RobinBanks

17,551 posts

210 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
'with interest' isn't a verb so you cam put it in either place really.

But I think "I read with interest" sounds better to me

SeeFive

8,353 posts

264 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
budfox said:
"I read your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive with interest"

or

"I read with interest your advertisement for a Marketing/PR Executive"

Having read the Wikipedia explanation, and even taking into account "to boldly go" I'm none the wiser.

I quite fancy the job but they do want someone who can write...
Don't do it in one sentence if it does not scan. You are simply introducing your interest, so tell them in simple short sentences in one intro paragraph.. Writing is about ensuring that the reader can digest it according to a readability index associated with theirmintelligence, so as you don't know who you are writing for, assume that they are not very bright and you will do ok.

"Your advertisement for a Marketing/PR executive has really captured my attention.". Followed by a quick sentence on your most relevant credentials as a candidate, and another on why you are specifically interested in the position within their company. 3 sentences maximum.

Then continue in a new paragraph for the other stuff that you wish to say.

Good luck of course....

Luke Warm

496 posts

175 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
SeeFive said:
Don't do it in one sentence if it does not scan. You are simply introducing your interest, so tell them in simple short sentences in one intro paragraph.. Writing is about ensuring that the reader can digest it according to a readability index associated with theirmintelligence, so as you don't know who you are writing for, assume that they are not very bright and you will do ok.

"Your advertisement for a Marketing/PR executive has really captured my attention.". Followed by a quick sentence on your most relevant credentials as a candidate, and another on why you are specifically interested in the position within their company. 3 sentences maximum.

Then continue in a new paragraph for the other stuff that you wish to say.

Good luck of course....
A good tip when writing a covering letter is don't use a long word when a short one will do. Writing 'captured' instead of 'caught' makes you sound like a tool.

Actually, that whole sentence is naff. Of course it caught your attention or you wouldn't be applying for the job...

RobinOakapple

2,802 posts

143 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
ref. your advertisement in the Daily Telegraph for a PR/Marketing executive

Dear Mr X

I really want this job ever so much etc (or however you want to phrase it) etc etc

technodup

7,661 posts

161 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
Luke Warm said:
Actually, that whole sentence is naff. Of course it caught your attention or you wouldn't be applying for the job...
Almost as bad as "I am writing...".

Yes, obviously.

Get to the point as quickly as possible, everything else is clutter.

55palfers

6,395 posts

195 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
I spotted your advert for a ?? and I am very interested in finding out a little more about the post. ?

otolith

69,685 posts

235 months

Adam B

29,761 posts

285 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
Blackpuddin said:
What Mr Oakapple said. If I received an application for this type of creative job that started with "I read with interest" or anything like it I'm afraid I'd bin it.
A little extreme, no? Removing all CV/letters with spelling mistakes or grammatical errors generally reduces it to a handful these days, without bringing personal preference into it.

anonymous-user

85 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
Adam B said:
Blackpuddin said:
What Mr Oakapple said. If I received an application for this type of creative job that started with "I read with interest" or anything like it I'm afraid I'd bin it.
A little extreme, no? Removing all CV/letters with spelling mistakes or grammatical errors generally reduces it to a handful these days, without bringing personal preference into it.
Yes and No

For me I want people who don't feel the need to be too wordy to get their point across, it smacks of trying too hard, I want the information I require as quickly and succinctly as possible. If someone litters their CV or covering letter with flowery language in an attempt to look smarter I'll likely bin it.