frequencyphrase-choice
I've often heard the expression "starting sth on a good footing". But googling around it seems that "starting on a good foot" is much more common, Ludwig doesn't even have an occurrence for "footing", just for "foot" https://ludwig.guru/s/start+on+a+good+footing
Are both expressions correct/idiomatic? Is using one more common than the other? For example: "starting the year on a good foot" Vs. "footing"?
You don't use to-infinitive after it's no good, it's no use, and there's no point.
You use the -ing form of a verb instead. You can also use the preposition "in" in front of the -ing form such as it's no use/good (in) arguing with him. There's no point (in) arguing with him.
While you can do things with good manners, it is rare to direct someone to do so in imperatives. Unless addressing children, it is not required to remind people to be polite— a person with good upbringing has good manners out of habit; an poorly raised person cannot tell the difference, anyway.
This may reflect a difference of cultural perception, but I think more likely that it is simply a poor translation from Japanese. A search on "smoke with good manners" mostly returns results from Japan. Considerate would be the more idiomatic adjective to use to remind people to think of others, so a similar campaign in an English-speaking city might be please be a considerate smoker or please be considerate when smoking, phrasings which are common in such signs.
When speaking generally of politeness, consideration, and other positive social behavior, good manners are something you have, not something you do (as with one's habits or one's nature). Someone with good manners may be said to be well-mannered, and someone without good manners is ill-mannered; it is more usually expressed that someone has good manners, than that they do something with good manners.
Best Answer
They are two different idioms.
'Footing' literally refers to the grip that your foot has on the ground. Poor footing can mean you don't have a grip on the ground, could slip and fall over. In a metaphorical context, saying something has started with a 'good footing' it is a lot like saying it has a good foundation; that it has a solid starting point and won't fail from the outset.
The idiom 'starting with the right foot' is similar, but refers more to an initial decision or first action. For example, if two people "start off on the right foot" it means the right things were said and done to form an immediate friendship or partnership. A similar expression, 'put (one's) best foot forward', means to give your best to something.
The two idioms could be interchangeable in some contexts as they both imply a good start. Arguably the 'footing' that you start with could be something that was already there and not the direct result of a decision or action, although choosing it as a starting place could be.