Nominalization is the process of converting other word forms (verbs, adjectives) into nouns. It is a key feature of formal and academic writing in English. "We decided to expand." → "The decision to expand was made." Recognizing and using nominalization makes writing sound more professional.
3 subtopics — pick one to start practising
Converting Verbs to Nouns
Common suffixes that convert verbs to nouns: -tion/-sion (decide → decision, expand → expansion, discuss → discussion), -ment (develop → development, achieve → achievement, agree → agreement), -al (propose → proposal, refuse → refusal, arrive → arrival), -ance/-ence (assist → assistance, refer → reference, perform → performance).
Converting Adjectives to Nouns
Common suffixes: -ness (happy → happiness, aware → awareness, dark → darkness), -ity (possible → possibility, equal → equality, complex → complexity), -ance/-ence (important → importance, patient → patience), -cy (frequent → frequency, accurate → accuracy), -th (long → length, warm → warmth, strong → strength).
Using Nominalization in Formal Writing
Academic and business writing heavily favor nominalization because it creates objectivity and density. "We implemented the policy" → "Implementation of the policy was achieved." However, overuse makes writing wordy. Good writers balance nominalizations with strong active verbs for clarity and impact. Recognizing which contexts call for formal style is the key skill.