Learn English – Which is the correct word to be filled in the blank in this sentence, “use”, “using”, or “to use”

grammarword-choice

Touch screens are electronic visual displays that allow a user to interact directly with what is displayed on the screen, rather than ___________ a pointing device, such as a mouse.

Which is the correct word to be filled in the blank in this sentence, "use", "using", or "to use"?

I prefer to use "using", but is "use" also OK? How about "to use"?

Best Answer

Good question.

Cambridge Dictionary has an entry for this. It says...

We use rather than to give more importance to one thing when two alternatives or preferences are being compared:

Good to note that when we use 'rather than' with a verb, which is the case here, we use the base form or (less commonly) the -ing form of a verb.

For example...

I would prefer to leave now rather than to wait.

Another reference with good information is here.

Rather than is normally used in parallel structures: for example with two adjectives, adverbs, nouns, infinitives or -ing forms. When the main clause has a to-infinitive, rather than is normally followed by an infinitive without to. An -ing form is also possible.

So, to answer your question, it could be simply 'use' OR 'using'.

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