What is nominalization?
Put simply, to nominalize means to change something into its noun form. Nominalization helps us express more complex ideas. It is more common in formal writing.
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Writing with less nominalization |
Writing with more nominalization |
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We created a workaround that would help us reduce costs. This has opened up new opportunities for further investments. |
Our creation of a cost-reducing workaround has opened up new opportunities for further investments. |
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Because of the highways, there was more light and noise around the grasshoppers' habitats. This increase led to a reduction in breeding, which decreased the overall populations in the area. |
Due to the increase in highway-related light and noise around the grasshoppers' habitats, there was a reduction in breeding and consequent decrease to the overall populations in the area. |
Why learn it? You will often encounter it in academic journals and other situations with higher formality. In addition to helping us express more complex ideas, it helps us easily build cohesion between ideas and paragraphs.
Usage note: Though it can be helpful, be careful – nominalized text is considered denser and harder to read. If used too much, it can make meaning less clear, especially for people who are less comfortable with this type of writing.