used to or used for

[Patrick87]

Hi there,

which of the following senteces is correct?

A. A water pump is used to carry the water up.
B. A water pump is used for carrying the water up.

I am not sure, but I think both of them are correct. However, I would prefert the second one. There is also the phrasal word used to + gerund, but I think it can't be used in this context. It is rather used in sentences such as: I am used to exercising a lot. Therefore, I think it would be wrong to write: A water pump is used to carrying the water up.

Which sentence would you prefer? Is it A or B? Or are both of them correct?

Best wishes,
Patrick

 

[5jj]

Both are fine.

 

[SoothingDave]

Both are grammatically OK, but A is better for technical writing.

 

[Patrick87]

Thanks. That was what I thougt. But I didn't know that A is better for technical/academic writing.

 

[SoothingDave]

I say that because it is fewer syllables and sounds more natural/simpler.