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Grammar reference

Academic Discourse

Nominalisation in Academic Writing

Turning verbs into abstract nouns.

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Explanation

Nominalisation packs information into noun phrases, which raises the information density of academic prose. It helps when a process must be treated as a thing to be measured or compared, but excessive nominalisation hides the agent and flattens the verbs.

Examples

  • The measurement of the samples took two hours.
  • Their refusal to sign delayed the sale.
  • Rapid urbanisation increased demand for water.

Common mistakes

  • The measuring of the samples was done by us.

    We measured the samples.

    Keep the verb when the agent matters.

  • The implementation of the policy was done quickly by the team.

    The team implemented the change quickly.

    Nominalisation hid the agent unnecessarily.

More Academic Discourse

Ellipsis and Substitution

Avoiding repetition with so, do, one and that.

Hedging and Claim Strength

Qualifiers that match evidence to claim.

Cohesion Beyond Connectors

Reference, repetition and parallel structure.