My only comment is that the logic is careless.  The phrase "at the risk ..." is placed like a sentence adverb, but if it is interpreted that way, the assertion of the rest of the sentence is just backwards.  The senior would sound snotty if he never split ... etc.  My rewrite would replace the phrase with a more explicit one: "Even though seniors may risk sounding snotty, they should never split an infinitive nor dangle a participle."  Notice the snotty "nor" as well.  The rule might be to the effect that a formal style requires a careful and explicit connecting of adverbials in as logical a way as practical, at the risk of sounding snotty.  


-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Crystal Benedicks
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 8:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: teaching question

Dear All--
Is anyone willing to share an effective way of teaching students the  
problem with a sentence like this:

"At the risk of sounding snotty, a senior should never split an  
infinitive or dangle a participle."

This was written by a senior at my college. I assume that he is  
burying his subject ("I") out of a sense that this is a formal  
occasion (he's complaining to a professor about other students). I  
see students make this kind of mistake often in such situations. I'm  
just not sure how to name this problem, or address it.

Thank you,
Crystal Benedicks
Wabash College

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