NOMINALISATION MADE EASIER

How to write in a more academic fashion.

NOMINALISATION IS:

Writing in a more academic manner.

Writing in a lexically dense manner.

The major difference between spoken and written language.

Getting better marks because you can do this.

NOMINALISATION

Is a process that turns a word or a number of words into nouns.

It is usually verbs and adjectives that are changed (but can also be conjunctions, prepositions and modal finites).

EXAMPLESVerb – Nouns Adjectives – Nouns

completed – completion consistent – consistency

irrigate – irrigation difficult – difficulty

impacting – impact impure – impurities

present – presentation available – availability

emerge – emergence

growing – growth

analyse – analyst

worry – concern

conduct - conductivity

ACTIVITY

Nominalise the following verbs/adjectives:

rely

destroy

expand

survive

paid

fulfil

simple

old

approach

ACTIVITY ANSWERS

Nominalise the following verbs/adjectives:

rely reliance

destroy destruction

expand expansion

survive survival

paid payment

fulfil fulfilment

simple simplicity

old older

approach approaches

NOMINALISATION

So, if you put the word ‘the’ in front of a word (i.e. an adjective or verb) it helps to make it a noun!

NOMINALISATION The nominalisation of whole parts of sentences, rather than just a word, is what has the major impact on formalizing academic writing.

Example:

Scientists have been developing new chemicals …

Becomes:

The development of new chemicals by scientists …

The subject of a sentence is a noun at the beginning of a sentence.

It helps sort out the syntax (i.e. structure or order) of the sentence.

ACTIVITY

How could the following sentences be made more formal by the use of nominalisation?

1. For example, if I was about to compete in a hundred metre race and I ate a bucket of chips it would effect my ability to run well.

2. It is a real problem that players have to worry too much about their sponsorship deals instead of just concentrating on playing the game.

ACTIVITY - SUGGESTED ANSWERS1. For example, if I was about to compete in a hundred metre race

and I ate a bucket of chips it would effect my ability to run well.

The effect on an athletes’ performance in a competition is significant if a bucket of chips is consumed prior to the race.

2. It is a real problem that players have to worry too much about their sponsorship deals instead of just concentrating on playing the game.

The concern regarding sponsorship deals has a significant effect on a player’s game.