Sorry to bother you again but just to clarify:
The original sentence I used for my essay was not exactly the same one, but I am assuming that it is similar in context.
It goes something similar to the following:
The accuracy of the information would be higher/better by discussing with experts than nonexperts.
This is not a good sentence. It doesn't matter what you write after "The accuracy of the information would be higher/better by ..." because this part is not good.
"The accuracy of the information would be higher/better if you discussed it with experts rather than [with] nonexperts."
"You can increase the accuracy by discussing this with experts rather than [with] non-experts."
You have suggested that it would be better to put "rather" and "with" (with being still optional).
Yes, but the rest of your sentence must be grammatical as well.
Question: If I do not use either, would it be grammatically inferior or awkward in any way (strictly academic/formal writing wise).
Yes, it would in most cases, even if only stylistically.
So basically if i keep it as "with experts than nonexperts," would it be grammatically awkward or weak in any way?
Yes, in most cases it would not be as good. But, as I've shown, that would depend partly on what came earlier in the sentence.
1. "Discuss this with experts
than non-experts". Obviously wrong.
2. "Discuss this with experts
than with non-experts". Wrong.
3. "Discuss this with experts
rather than non-experts". Right
4. "Discuss this with experts
rather than with non-experts". Right
You can't ignore the fact that you are making a comparison, because that mandates the choice of certain structures. In the above "A
rather than B" was used.
5. "Experts are
better than non-experts." Right.
6. "It is
better to use experts
than non-experts." Right. Here "A is/are
better than B" is used.
Anyhow, I think you're asking whether your sentence - which I have bolded in black above - is acceptable or not. I say not. Perhaps others would like to comment?