Quote:
Originally Posted by MMM
Is there a time when こと is more appropriate than 事? For example, when quoting someone's speech? I am working on a project, and our Japanese editor suggested on one page changing 事 to こと, when it is used in quoted text. (He didn't "say" that, but the only places he wanted it changed were in quoted text.) I don't know if it makes a difference, but the quotes are all by American farmers, and their quotes have been translated into Japanese.
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Yes, there is. Better writers tend to prefer using 「こと」 as a perfunctory noun (Not sure if that is the correct term). They tend to use 「事」 only as a regular noun (= "thing" in English).
こと：
おっちゃんのゆうてること間違ってるんちゃう？
主人から電話があり、金曜日に帰宅するとのことだった 。
めっちゃ好きやねん、木村君のこと・・・・
事：
昨日のセミナーでは多くの事を学んだ。
ふたつの事を同時にやると大抵失敗する。
ええか？この事だけは忘れたらあかんで！
The super-latest trend, however, is toward using こと regardless of its usage. Whether or not this will be the norm, we do not know yet. Some people, I am sure, would feel that I mentioned this too early.