こと vs. 事

[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.

[masaegu]

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.

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.

[MMM]

Interesting... I have never heard as clear an explanation as that. Thank you.

[masaegu]

Originally Posted by MMM

Interesting... I have never heard as clear an explanation as that. Thank you.

You just have to live as long as I have.

Just thought of an even better sentence that uses both:
昨日のセミナーでは多くの事を学ぶことができた。

[KyleGoetz]

I've seen other sources use "abstract" to refer to the proper context of the kana version of こと.

Are you using "perfunctory noun" as the translation of 形式名詞? I honestly don't know what to call that. "Dummy noun" maybe? I think maybe I've seen that term before.

[masaegu]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

I've seen other sources use "abstract" to refer to the proper context of the kana version of こと.

Are you using "perfunctory noun" as the translation of 形式名詞? I honestly don't know what to call that. "Dummy noun" maybe? I think maybe I've seen that term before.

Exactly. I kinda made it up based on the Japanese counterpart. "Abstract" seems to be a proper word for this.

Another observation of mine:
こと = uncountable
事 = countable

[KyleGoetz]

Does a relatively similar pattern hold up for 物／もの and 所／ところ?

[andylaurel]

interesting thread.

[steven]

I distinctly remember talking about this in one of my college courses and having it go above my head. This thread caught my eye the second you posted it MMM. I was glad you asked and was hoping Masaegu would tackle it. Thank you guys!

[masaegu]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

Does a relatively similar pattern hold up for 物／もの and 所／ところ?

I would say yes, though roughly, for 物／もの. As for 所／ところ, it is a different ball game.

もの in kana as a "dummy" noun:

高校生の頃よくこのラーメン店に来たものだ。 (retrospection)
結婚とはいいものだ。 (exclamation)
マサさんみたいな素敵な人がテキサスなんかにいるもの か。 (firm denial)

With 所／ところ, it is not very simple as to which one looks better in which cases. The choice is pretty much left to each writer's discretion. I will show you some examles where you will most definitely look wrong/uneducated if you used the kanji.

見どころ = points/scenes worth watching. This word is often used in discussing a film, TV program, musical, play, etc.
米どころ = a place known for growing fine rice
きれいどころ = a group of good-looking ladies

オレの知ったところではない。 = It ain't none of my business!

スミスさんが目指すところの日本語能力 = (the level of) Japanese proficiency that Smith aspires to acquire. (ところ used as an emphatic kind of a relative pronoun)