Which of the sentences is grammatically correct?

Which of the sentences is grammatically correct?

  1. The using of the opportunities offered by … became an important element.
  2. A significant element became the using of the opportunities offered by …

Thank you in advance for your help.

Answer

Both are grammatical, but neither is very satisfactory.

  • In the first place, the ponderous construction the VERBing of is almost always a bad choice. If you want the -ing form in situations like this, employ it as a frank verb: write using X. If for some reason you want to bleach out any hint of ‘verbiness’, employ the ordinary noun form, use of.

    (Usage is something else again: it designates habitual or customary use, and today usually refers to use of some linguistic form.)

    Other things being equal, I recommend the verbal use; too many nouns makes your diction sound pompous and self-important.

  • In the second place, you should not speak of using an opportunity. Use is employed with a tool or means by which you do something.

    • Using the resources offered by …
    • Using the software provided by …
    • Use of equipment obtained from …

    But an opportunity is not a tool or means for doing something; it is an occasion for doing something. Opportunity signifies a time or a situation or a state of affairs particularly suited to doing whatever it is you want to do. You would do better to use take advantage of or seize or exploit:

    • Taking advantage of the opportunity offered by …
    • Seizing the opportunity afforded by …
    • Exploiting the opportunity arising from …

Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Heniek Kowalski , Answer Author : StoneyB on hiatus

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