WHich word orders are natural?

[optimistic pessimist]

Hi, friends!

In each pair, which word order would be correct, or better?

1.It is wise to always be optimistic.
2.It is wise always to be optimistic.

1.I make it a rule always to be optimistic.
2.I make it a rule to always be optimistic.

Thank you.

 

[oregeezer]

In both cases it seems more natural to my old American ears to use the first phrase.

 

[David L.]

Quote:
A split infinitive is an English-language grammatical construction in which a word or phrase, usually an adverb or adverbial phrase, comes between the marker to and the bare infinitive (uninflected) form of a verb. One of the most famous split infinitives occurs in the opening sequence of the Star Trek television series: to boldly go where no man has gone before. Here, the adverb "boldly" splits the full infinitive "to go." More rarely, the term compound split infinitive is used to describe situations in which the infinitive is split by more than one word: The population is expected to more than double in the next ten years.
As the split infinitive became more popular in the 19th century, some grammatical authorities sought to introduce a prescriptive rule against it. The construction is still the subject of disagreement among native English speakers as to whether it is grammatically correct or good style.

The freedom to keep or split the infinite, to move words around to change the emphasis, provides much of the richness of English:
1.It is always wise to be honest.
2.It is wise to always be honest.
3.It is wise to be always honest.
It allows the nuances of difference in meaning.