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I have seen the usage of both versions:

I am doing this to get more attention and to seek for opportunities.

I am doing this to get more attention and seek for opportunities.

Which one is correct? Or is it merely different styles?

Thanks in advance!

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  • 1
    Both options are fine. If the second part is an afterthought, you would probably repeat to (and possibly add a comma before the conjunction). Otherwise, most people probably prefer the shorter version. – Cerberus_Reinstate_Monica Apr 11 '15 at 17:03
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They are both okay. You can conjoin any two phrases of the same type to get another phrase of that same type. The structure is

I am doing this [[to [get more attention]] and [to [seek for opportunities]]].

where "and" connects two to-infinitives and gives you a to-infinitive that goes with "doing this". But the two lower verb phrases could also be connected:

I am doing this [to [[get more attention] and [seek for opportunities]]].

giving a verb phrase in construction with the "to".

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1

Simpler:

I am doing this to get more attention and seek opportunities.

An American's Guide To Doing Business In China: ... - Page 113

Mike Saxon - 2006 - Many rural people, especially the young, go to a city to make money and seek opportunities for advancement.

Also consider at Google Books (not vanilla Google):

"and seek opportunities to" About 11,800 results

"and seek for opportunities to" About 61 results

Enough said.

_ Now, at the British National Corpus:

seek opportunities 6 solutions

seek for opportunities 0

look for opportunities 7 solutions

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  • Though irrelevant to the question, should it be seek or seek for? Thanks! – Thomas Hsieh Apr 11 '15 at 20:44
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    Neither option seems quite idiomatic in British English. To "seek attention" is a common phrase, and you can describe somebody as "attention-seeking" or "an attention-seeker". But "getting more attention and seeking [for] something else" sounds a bit strange. I think search for opportunities" or "look for opportunities" would be more idiomatic. – alephzero Apr 11 '15 at 22:04
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    @ alephzero Updated stats at the BNC. Mind want to have a look. Pretty much the same numbers. However "[for] something else" is a good point. – Marius Hancu Apr 11 '15 at 22:31
  • @alephzero Thanks for adding to the answer! Do your statement only hold for British English? I have been learning/using American English. Your help is much appreciated! – Thomas Hsieh Apr 12 '15 at 6:00
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    No, only the references to BNC at the end are British. – Marius Hancu Apr 12 '15 at 6:12

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