"I don't bother to do" vs "I don't bother doing"

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Music by Eric Matyas
https://www.soundimage.org
Track title: Puzzling Curiosities

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Chapters
00:00 &Quot;I Don'T Bother To Do&Quot; Vs &Quot;I Don'T Bother Doing&Quot;
00:15 Answer 1 Score 0
00:23 Accepted Answer Score 8
01:03 Thank you

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Full question
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Tags
#wordchoice #infinitives #participles

#avk47

ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 8

Antony Quinn is correct, but I think it could do with a little more explanation.

No. 1 is perfectly understandable, but would not be used by a native English speaker. However, compare the following:

3) I won't bother to look for it

4) I won't bother looking for it

In my view 3 is just as acceptable as 4.

I think the difference in the two cases is to do with whether it is a specific or a general statement: to my intuition the "-ing" form is strongly preferred for a general sense, but not when a specific occasion is being referred to.

Also note that the almost synonymous phrase "can't be bothered" prefers the "to" form, though the "-ing" form is also found.

ANSWER 2

Score 0

Number 2 is correct: I don't bother studying.