Page 564 - Makino,Tsutusi.DictionaryOfIntermediateJGrammar

490 to iu no wa - koto da

(Ham yori dango (lit. dumplings rather than blossoms) means that edi-
ble dumplings are better than pretty but inedible blossoms; i.e., one
should take substance over appearance.)

Although there is no restriction as to what precedes it, to iu no wa is
usually preceded by N I Adj(na)stem or {VP 1 AP 1 Slinf. Similarly,
any form can precede to iu koto da, but it is normally preceded by
{VP 1 AP 1 Slid. When to iu is not present before koto da, N no or the
pre-noun form of V or Adj. must precede.

In X to iu no wa Y to iu koto da, the presence of the second to iu
depends on the relationship between X and Y. If Y is the unshortened
word of, a definition of, or a synonym for X, to iu is not used (e.g.,
KS(A) and Ex.(a)).
-
(1) a. /fY=~'Jtb> jo)Ci~f-Yt)L J'J~z.--~ {cD/*tL\
5 1 2 t E0 (=KS(A))
b. ~4?5-tbljo)CkmA$R~Tb>&$ IcD/*t~\jl Z
2 lzo (=Ex.(a))
If Y is an interpretation or explanation of X, to iu should be present
(e.g., KS(D) and Ex.(f)).

(2) a. r%b*i~b%%&j tb\io)CikF;'bATb$$l:b2XWtT
aztmja {tL\j /??@I ztrz, (=Ks@))
b. !lB3] tb>j~3b-d:?i;kblh%Df O&<bh6P1?
ak$Ibl, WRL r3%RofiQR4 It~lj /??@I z t
rzo (=Ex.o)
If Y can be interpreted either way, to iu is optional. For example, in
KS(C), if to iu is present, the speaker is explaining the meaning of ashi
ga deru. If to iu is not present, the speaker is providing a definition for
the phrase under focus.