> > What's elegant to one person may be inelegant to the next. Consider my split infinitive that started this: "Women have to first prove that they act. . ." Is it any less clear or significantly less elegant than "Women have to prove first that they act. . .?"
>
> "Women first have to prove" > either of them. QED.

I like, "First, women have to prove that they can act."

But I don't believe a word of it. Some of the best acting is done by women. Why would they have to prove it any more than men?

For example, when Fred and Ginger were dancing on the silver screen, we watched Ginger. She was beautiful, but ordinary looking Fred, was by far the better dancer.

Another question is, "How far off the topic can I get before you give up and go back to the grammar discussion?"
Howard