Nominalization is the process of using nouns instead of verbs to describe events in formal written English. This makes the language less personal and more impersonal. Spoken English typically uses verbs to describe actions and events, while written English often expresses events as nouns or noun phrases. Nominalization allows writers to discuss topics in a less direct, more objective way that sounds more authoritative.

1. Nominalization in Written
English
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2. What is Nominalization?
Nominalization is giving the main information
in a clause as a noun phrase rather than
as a verb.

3. Nominalization
In spoken English we usually use a subject
+ verb to describe an event.
I reacted badly.
Then really quickly my foot began to go red and
swell up.

4. Nominalization
In formal written language we use language
that is less personal.
We often use a noun form instead of a verb.
Following a bee sting the normal reaction is
redness, irritation and itching.
In this situation there may be swelling in the area
around the bite.

5. Nominalization
Spoken language
Then really quickly my foot began to go red and
swell up.
Formal written language
Following a bee sting the normal reaction is
redness, irritation and itching.
In SPOKEN LANGUAGE events are expressed by
verbs.
In FORMAL WRITTEN LANGUAGE events are
changed into nouns (redness, swelling).

6. Nominalization
We can also change some adjectives to
nouns. Compare:
The cathedral is tall and can be seen from all
over the town.
The cathedral’s height makes it visible all over
town.

7. Nominalization
The common differences between spoken
and written English are:
Spoken
Actions and events are expressed as verbs:
swell up
Written
Actions and events may be expressed as nouns
or noun phrases. swelling

8. Nominalization
Spoken
Events happen to people or are carried out by
people: He reacted badly, My foot began to go
red
Written
Events are discussed impersonally: The normal
reaction is ...

9. Nominalization
Spoken
Personal pronouns are used as subjects:
I, she
Written
Nouns are used as subjects: a person, the
throat

10. Nominalization
Spoken
Verbs are often action or event verbs: reacted,
trod, itched
Written
Verbs are often not action or event verbs: be,
have

11. Reasons for Nominalization
Making texts impersonal and authoritative
By turning actions into nouns we make the
text sound less personal and more
authoritative. We don’t use personal
pronouns (e.g I, you, he) as much.

12. Reasons for Nominalization
Making texts impersonal and authoritative
Compare:
Following a bee sting the normal reaction is
burning pain, redness, irritation and itching. In
this reaction there may be swelling in the area
around the wound.
Then really quickly my foot began to go red and
swell up. It just got bigger and bigger. It itched a
bit too. I was really surprised by how much it
hurt.

13. Nominalization Examples
 Sentence1:
Crime was increasing rapidly and the police were
becoming concerned.
 Nominalized sentence:
The rapid increase in crime was causing concern among the
police.
 Sentence 2:
Germany invaded Poland in 1939. This was the immediate
cause of the Second World War breaking out.
 Nominalized sentence:
Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 was the immediate
cause of the outbreak of the Second World War. Can we
nominalize this sentence further?

14. Credits
Uni Learning Academic Writing at
http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/academic/3b.ht
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