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    Marco Mariano
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    Nominalizations are verbs or adjectives used as nouns, often identifiable by certain suffixes like -ment, -ion, etc. While sometimes useful, nominalizations generally make writing less concise and direct by making sentences wordier. Nominalized phrases can be revised to be more concise by using active verbs instead of passive constructions or weak verbs. Nominalizations should be avoided when possible but may be appropriate for general statements focusing on ideas rather than specific actors.

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    Nominalizations are verbs or adjectives used as nouns, often identifiable by certain suffixes like -ment, -ion, etc. While sometimes useful, nominalizations generally make writing less concise and direct by making sentences wordier. Nominalized phrases can be revised to be more concise by using active verbs instead of passive constructions or weak verbs. Nominalizations should be avoided when possible but may be appropriate for general statements focusing on ideas rather than specific actors.

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    52 views1 page

    Nominalizations Handout - With Logo

    Uploaded by

    Marco Mariano
    Nominalizations are verbs or adjectives used as nouns, often identifiable by certain suffixes like -ment, -ion, etc. While sometimes useful, nominalizations generally make writing less concise and direct by making sentences wordier. Nominalized phrases can be revised to be more concise by using active verbs instead of passive constructions or weak verbs. Nominalizations should be avoided when possible but may be appropriate for general statements focusing on ideas rather than specific actors.

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    NOMINALIZATIONS

    1. What is a nominalization?
    A nominalization is a verb (or adjective) that functions as a noun. For example, as
    nominalizations, the verbs state and assume become the nouns statement and assumption.
    Words that end in -ment, -ion, -ence, -ance, -ity, -ent, -ant, and -ancy are often nominalizations.

    2. Why does it matter?


    Nominalizations interfere with writing concise and direct sentences by making those sentences
    unnecessarily wordy. Using a nominalization—i.e., turning a verb into a noun—requires
    additional verbs and often prepositions and articles. Nominalizations may also lead to passive
    voice and weak verb choices.

    Nominalized Phrase Concise Revision


    gave a report reported
    made a decision decided
    offered a suggestion suggested
    resulted in an increase increased
    led to the destruction of destroyed

    Examples:
    • Nominalization: The court provided analysis on the issue and offered its conclusion
    that the defendant was guilty.
    • Better: The court analyzed the issue and concluded the defendant was guilty.

    • Nominalization: The usage of the property by the defendants was for the storage of
    the stolen jewelry and murder weapons.
    • Better: The defendant stored the jewelry and murder weapons on the property.

    • Nominalization: An agreement was made by the parties to reach a plea deal by


    Monday.
    • Better: The parties agreed to reach a plea deal by Monday.

    3. Sometimes, nominalizations can be useful

    • When you are making a general statement that focuses more on the idea than the actual
    actors in the sentence.
    o Example: The distribution of the pizzas was fair.

    ** Remember that, even in a case where a nominalization is appropriate, you should not overuse
    them in any portion of your text **

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