To receive/receiving

Heralding HereticWhich of the following sentences is preferable?

It depends on the context. As stand-alone sentences, they are both correct.

Thank you for responding. Could you please elaborate on how the context can influence it?

The writer may have a preferred style.
The construction may be better as a parallel construction with the rest of the text.
Sometimes diversity of style relieves monotony.
Sometimes one style sounds better or fits better, especially in poetry.
The infinitive has a more futuristic connotation; the gerund a more present connotation.

Which one did The Bard prefer?
To be,

Heralding HereticWhich of the following sentences is preferable?To receive society’s approval was a different matter.or Receiving society’s approval was a different matter.

For ordinary, everyday use, a gerund subject (receiving) is generally preferable, but if you want something in a more striking style (something more literary, let's say) then an infi

Thank you both for replying. It is for literary use. I try to avoid the use of gerunds as much as possible as I was told that frequent use of gerunds is frowned upon.

Heralding HereticI try to avoid the use of gerunds as much as possible as I was told that frequent use of gerunds is frowned upon.

Whoever told you that???

Heralding HereticI was told that frequent use of gerunds is frowned upon.

Hmmm. Well, I suppose it could get old pretty fast if you overdo it with several in every sentence in a whole paragraph, but I've never heard the "frowned upon" bit.

Heralding HereticIt is for literary use.

I'd say go for the infinitive in that case.

A guy who claimed to have a professional background in linguistics. But seeing as he told me some other rather dubious things, I'm beginning to doubt it.

I think I have a tendency to use it once to often. Sometimes it can add some flow to a sentence, but too much can make it feel clunky.

I did go for the infinitive. Thanks for the help.