A verb turned into a noun is called a nominalization (or nominalisation). This linguistic process involves converting a verb (or sometimes an adjective or other part of speech) into a noun, often by adding specific suffixes.
Understanding Nominalization
Nominalization is the process of forming a noun from another part of speech. When a verb undergoes nominalization, its action or state is transformed into a concept or an entity. While a verb describes an action, its nominalized form refers to the result of the action, the act itself, or a concept derived from the action.
For example:
- The verb "to decide" becomes the noun "decision".
- The verb "to discuss" becomes the noun "discussion".
- The verb "to implement" becomes the noun "implementation".
Impact on Writing Style and Clarity
While nominalizations are a standard part of language and can be useful for creating concise concepts or abstract ideas, their overuse can significantly impact writing quality.
- Hiding the Action: One significant effect of nominalization is that it can obscure the real action within a sentence. When a verb is turned into a noun, the dynamic "doing" is often replaced by a static "thing," making the sentence less direct and harder for readers to follow the sequence of events or the agent performing the action.
- Increased Formality and Length: Writing that relies heavily on nominalizations often sounds more formal and abstract. Sentences can also become longer and more complex than necessary, as the core action is buried within a noun phrase, requiring more words to convey the same meaning that a strong verb could express concisely.
- Loss of Clarity: Strong, active verbs generally make writing more vibrant and easier to understand. Replacing them with nominalizations can lead to a less engaging and less precise style. For these reasons, strong writing often prioritizes the use of direct verbs.
Consider the difference:
- Verb-focused: The team decided to proceed. (Clear, direct action)
- Nominalized: The team made a decision to proceed. (Less direct; the action is now "made a decision" instead of simply "decided")
Examples of Verb to Nominalization
Many common words are nominalizations. Here’s a table illustrating some frequent conversions:
| Verb | Nominalization | Typical Suffixes |
|---|---|---|
| Achieve | Achievement | -ment |
| Analyze | Analysis | -sis |
| Comprehend | Comprehension | -ion |
| Develop | Development | -ment |
| Discuss | Discussion | -ion |
| Employ | Employment | -ment |
| Examine | Examination | -ation |
| Implement | Implementation | -ation |
| Inform | Information | -ation |
| Judge | Judgment | -ment |
| Organize | Organization | -ation |
| Provide | Provision | -sion |
| Respond | Response | -se |
| Suggest | Suggestion | -ion |
When to Use and When to Revise
While it's generally good practice for strong writing to favor active verbs and avoid excessive nominalizations, they are not always to be avoided.
- Appropriate Use:
- To refer to abstract concepts (e.g., "democracy," "knowledge").
- To summarize complex ideas concisely.
- In academic or scientific writing where precision in naming concepts is paramount.
- Tips for Revision:
- Identify Nominalizations: Look for nouns ending in -tion, -ment, -ance, -ence, -al, -sis, -ure, etc., especially if they could be verbs.
- Find the Hidden Verb: Ask what action is being performed.
- Restore the Verb: Rephrase the sentence to use the original verb (or a strong synonym) as the main verb.
- Identify the Actor: Determine who or what is performing the action to ensure clarity.
Understanding nominalization helps writers make deliberate choices about their style, ensuring their message is clear, concise, and impactful. For more detailed insights into this linguistic phenomenon, you can explore resources like the Purdue Online Writing Lab on Nominalization.
