What's the difference?

[Richardson89]

What's the difference between: "Ten steps to "building" college reading skills, and ten steps to "build" college reading skills." Is there any difference? If so, please one explain me.--------Which one is correct or more common? Sometimes I get confused with the -ing ending after the word to. Thank you for helping me.

[MrPedantic]

Hello R89

1. Ten steps to build X.
2. Ten steps to building X.

In #1, "to build" is a to-infinitive: the sentence means "ten steps that help you build X".

In #2, "building" is a gerund, i.e. a verbal noun: the sentence means "ten steps that will get you to the point at which you can build X".

MrP

[Richardson89]

Thank you..