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What's the difference? How do you know when to use one vs. the other?

I'm asking because I said 「話｛はな｝すことを止｛や｝める」, but was corrected to 「話｛はな｝すの...」
and I don't understand why.

_(I searched for this question but was surprised to find it doesn't already
exist!)_
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2016-12-30T23:59:13.177
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2016-12-31T10:43:01.603
2016-12-31T00:02:51.333
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question
usage nominalization
の (no) vs. こと (koto)
This would depend on the context/situation in which either sentence is
uttered, but if you used 「話すことを止める」 in a situation where you are only talking
about "stopping talking **_for now or just momentarily_** ", it could sound a
little bit strange. It is not necessarily **_incorrect_** ; It just sounds
kind of too serious if you use 「こと」 there. In short, it could sound like you
are saying that you will stop talking **_for good_**.

「の」 is **_slightly_** more informal than 「こと」 in nuance; therefore, it would
fit that situation that much, if not very much, better.
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2016-12-31T00:27:35.273
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2016-12-31T10:43:01.603
2016-12-31T10:43:01.603
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Both is correct and has the samemeaning. However "こと" can be used for vast
situation, so I think your adviser advised you the more proper way to express
the same meaning. Actually "話すのを止める" is more smoothing Japanese expression I
feel.

It depends on the person, but I feel the following. "抗議するのを止める" is more
smoohter than "抗議することを止める"

"学校に通うのを止める" is more smoohter than "学校に通うことを止める"

"こと" also can be used for the following, "日本語を勉強することを始める（止める）" = "日本語を勉強し始める"

"実行可能な計画を策定することが重要だ" = "実行可能な計画策定が重要だ"

We can make Japanese sentences without "こと", and at the same time we can make
Japanese sentences with "こと."

Japanese sentences without "こと" sounds smooth for me (It depends on the
person.)

Nowasays, more and more Japanese natives use "部分" like the following,
"安全に対する配慮が不足していた部分もありますので、今後はしっかり対応したいと思います"

Some people are sensitive for the exessive use of "こと" and "部分", but most of
Japanese don't care abut it.

"こと"や"部分"が多用される日本語は、適切ではないことだと思いますが、それが今の日本で受け入れられている部分も認めなければなりません。(^^)
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2016-12-31T02:23:27.207
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2016-12-31T02:23:27.207
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It doesn't make big difference concerning most verbs as other posts say, but
some verbs can make big difference. For example, 見る and 聞く make these
differences.

  * 傷｛いた｝んでいるのを見た I found it rotten
  * 傷んでいることを見た I considered/expected that it would be rotten

  * その人がピアノを弾くのを聞いた I heard him play piano

  * その人がピアノを弾くことを聞いた I heard that he would play piano

In addition, since の is a pronoun, it's not impossible to interpret の as
substitution for こと and that interpretation makes sentences with の ambiguous.
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2016-12-31T08:23:58.323
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answer