Apr 30, 2025 · Nominalization is changing a verb or adjective into a noun, like making 'destruct' into 'destruction'. Nominalizations in writing can make sentences less clear by hiding who does …

Nominalizations are nouns that are created from adjectives (words that describe nouns) or verbs (action words). For example, “interference” is a nominalization of “interfere,” “decision” is a …

The main types of nominalizations are ones that take suffixes. Not every example of nominalizations can be covered here, but these are examples of what to look for:

The example below shows how nominalisation can help connect sentences. Notice how the writer has used the noun 'predictability' to connect to, and expand on, an idea in the previous sentence.

For example, we often see nominalization in medical, legal, scientific, and academic writing, or what might be interpreted as having an institutional voice: Verb: We studied the survey results. …

When writing papers and articles in the natural and social sciences, for example, it's assumed that you will not refer to yourself. Take a look at the difference between these two sentences:

Learn how to use nominalisation to link ideas and build cohesion in your writing. Includes Oxford student examples, guidance on effective use, and warnings against overuse.

For example, Latin has a number of nominalization suffixes, and some of these suffixes have been borrowed into English, either directly or through Romance languages.

nominalizations as often as possible. Why? Because nominalizations obscure both the action and the subject of a sentence; in fact, they often appear hand-in-hand with the . assive voice or …

So when you notice a nominalization, I suggest you convert it to a verb, adverb, or adjective and then decide what sounds best. Let’s hear how this works. I just said, “decide what sounds …