"for being" versus "to be"

[Gray]

Which of these is correct?

1) But that should not be a reason for being unfair with it.

2) But that should not be a reason to be unfair with it.

If both are correct then is there any difference in the meaning?
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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Jamie (K)]

No difference.

[Iraqi]

I think there is a difference, but I'd rather wait for other replies. [please don't take me for Quirk :-)]

[Gray]

[Jamie (K)]

I think I know the difference he perceives.

[Iraqi]

[Iraqi]

Where have you gone, Jamie? Don't you want to read my mind? (I think I have a mind- over optimistic!)

[Iraqi]

No answer yet? In this case, I have to go for it alone.

But please don't laugh so loudly at my answer [you may suppress your laughter with your hand or a handkerchief]

1) But that should not be a reason for being unfair with it.

2) But that should not be a reason to be unfair with it.

They are correct syntactically, but semantically different.

The first suggests that someone has already been unfair with it.

The second suggests that there is an intention or probability to be unfair.

Good luck (if my answer is correct)

[Alan]

Hi,

There is a general (a very general) difference between the infinitive and the 'ing' form after some verbs which can take either. The infinitive is more specific than the 'ing' form. This same difference also translates to the question on whether it is 'reason for being' or 'reason to be'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Jamie (K)]

Iraqi, the difference you mentioned is the one I thought you saw. Theoretically there could be that difference, but in practice you can use either sentence in the same situation in which you'd use the other one.

[Iraqi]

But, Jamie, when we speak about differences here, we have to focus on theory and not practice. For, in practice we tend sometimes to misuse certain phrases, words or other structural units (especially in AmE). Hence, I suppose, the criterion here should be the theory.

[Jamie (K)]

[Iraqi]

Well, as a matter of fact, I have been neither to England nor to America. Far from that, I have been to Russia, where I had to struggle to help my English survive (because Russian has many things in common with English but pronounced, written or read quite differently :-))

What I meant by "phrases and structural units are misused "especially in American English" is the written, not the spoken. AmE sometimes tend to be rebellious against the English grammar in their standard language, not the colloquial.

Anyway, thank you so much for the comments.