Lesson 2: Denominalize
(Turn verbs masquerading as nouns back into verbs)
Introduction to Denominalized Verbs
You can make sentences shorter, snappier, and more direct by turning some nouns into verbs. The nouns you want to change into verbs have been called “smothered” nouns and “controverted” nouns; some writers call them “nominalizations.” If we use this last term, then the act of liberating the noun in question is “denominalizing”; < Lat. de, from + nomen, name). Think of it as “un-nouning” a noun by converting it to its verbal form.
Why would you want to do this? Because you want your sentences to be lively, forceful, interesting, and concise. When the real action of a sentence is trapped in noun’s clothing, you don’t very often get those effects. When your sentence could display an active, vigorous, working verb, then by George, GRAB that verb.
A common tip-off for recognizing a nominalization is a noun combined with a “fluff” verb. For example:
Researchers conducted an investigation into the problem.
Use Vigorous, Active Verbs
The fluff verb is “conducted”; it sets up the idea of “investigation” as a noun. But since the idea of investigation really is the main idea of the sentence, why not express it as a vigorous, active verb? This change will also make the sentence more concise:
Researchers investigated the problem.
In fact, your original prose may have combined passive voice and nominalization:
An investigation into the problem was conducted by researchers.
As it often happens, denominalizing and switching from passive to active voice work together to create more direct, vigorous, readable sentences. Here’s another example, one burdened with three nominalizations and passive voice:
There was a review of the proposal and a ruling by the committee, but no explanation was offered for their decision.
Here the fluff elements are the “There was” opening and the “was offered” verb. Passive construction blurs the sentence even further. You should be able to see a good rewrite in a flash:
The committee reviewed and ruled on the proposal but did not explain its decision.
Like passives, nominalizations are sometimes appropriate, but scientists, engineers, and other professionals tend to overuse them. Unless you need a nominalization to make a transition or for some other legitimate reason, switch it to verb form. The switch will improve your style.
Practice, Lesson 2: Denominalize
Enter your revision in the box below each exercise. Click the “>” below each box to see Dr. Hirst’s revision.
Exercise 1: Unmask the Nouns
Choose the verb form that corresponds to the noun and type your answer in the space provided:
1. Employment: employer; employance; employ; emporium
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
employ
2. Governance: government; govern; McGovern; governancy
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
govern
3. Expectation: expectorate; expectance; expensive; expect
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
expect
4. Calculation: calculus; calculize; calculate; calcify
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
calculate
5. Authorization: authorial; authoritative; authority; authorize
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
authorize
6. Transmittal: transmission; transmigrate; transmit; transmogrify
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
transmit
7. Investigation: investigatory; investigate; investancy; investment
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
investigate
8. Administration: administrate; administrative; administry; administer
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
administer
9. Observance: observation; observatory; observancy; observe
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
observe
10. Summary: summarate; summarize; summation; summarization
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s answer.
summarize
Now you’re ready to unmask some hidden verbs within the very sentences where they are lurking. Remember: you can spot these verbs in their noun disguises by looking for endings like -ion, -tion, -ization, -ance, -ment, -ancy, and so on. Also, be on the lookout for “fluff verbs,” those dull, superfluous verbs that the writer had to stick into the sentence because he chose to smother, or mask, the real verb.
Exercise 2: Denominalize Sentences
Find the main verb hiding in its noun form and unmask it. Turn it into a direct, vigorous verb. Type your answer below each sentence, then click on the bullet to see Dr. Hirst’s rewrite. Remember, his revision is not the only possible answer.
1. The researchers must conduct an investigation into the claims of their colleague.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The researchers must investigate the claims of their colleague.
2. Our expectation was to receive the data earlier.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
We expected to receive the data earlier.
3. The appearance of the new equipment in the laboratory will not be until June 20.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The new equipment will not appear in the laboratory until June 20.
4. The design department will achieve the illustration of 100 books this year.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The design department will illustrate 100 books this year.
5. We have made a calculation that the cell mass will soon increase by 20%.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
We calculate that the cell mass will soon increase by 20%.
6. The CEO reached a decision to diversify the company’s holdings and to conduct a negotiation with the Japanese.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The CEO decided to diversify the company’s holdings and negotiate with the Japanese.
7. Our research team will provide documentation for the incubation process and make a determination as to the viability of the new vaccine.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
Our research team will document the incubation process and determine the new vaccine’s viability.
Finally: For the next four exercises, denominalize AND change passive to active voice. You’ll see that these two editorial actions work hand in hand to make your sentences more vigorous, clear, and concise.
8. Attempts to purchase the photographs have been made by the company.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The company attempted to buy the photographs.
(Note: if you’re coming up with even leaner sentences, such as “The company tried to buy the photos,” congratulations! You’re a step ahead of these tutorials. Have patience; we’ll get to “pruning words” in the next lesson.)
9. There are expectations on the part of the client that she will be served quickly by our employees when she calls us with questions or problems.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The client expects our employees to serve her quickly when she calls us with questions or problems.
10. An appeal has been made by the departmental secretaries for the conservation of paper.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The departmental secretaries have appealed to us to conserve paper.
or:
The secretaries have asked us to save paper.
11. A search for the missing piece of genetic code is being carried out by scientists.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
Scientists are searching for the missing piece of genetic code.
12. An agreement has been reached by the members of the funding committee to afford a serious consideration to the proposal.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The members of the funding committee have agreed to seriously consider the proposal.
Very well then. Let’s see you change passive to active voice and denominalize an entire (fictitious) paragraph of struggling prose.
Exercise 3: Final Challenge
Type out your revision below the paragraph BEFORE clicking on the bullet to see Dr. Hirst’s revision (which is, after all, just one of many possible revisions):
The Mexican government is currently being helped by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in the investigation of a serious incident involving radiation poisoning. A truckload of irradiated scrap metal was driven from a dump site at Los Alamos National Laboratory into Mexico City, Mexico last Tuesday; it evidently was not inspected at the border. A determination was later made by PAHO that the truck’s cargo had not received authorization for transport by officials at the lab. A realization of the dangerous nature of the cargo was not reached until dozens of workers at the Mexican foundry where the metal was delivered began to experience symptoms of radiation poisoning. An ongoing investigation into the situation is being conducted by PAHO in an attempt to reach a determination regarding those responsible for the decision to transport the dangerous truckload of scrap metal. In the meantime, Mexico has lodged a complaint with Washington about the incident; our nation’s response has been an apology and a gift of dozens of radiation detection devices.
> Open to see Dr. Hirst’s sample response.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is helping the Mexican government investigate a serious incident involving radiation poisoning. Unknown drivers transported a truckload of irradiated scrap metal from a dump site at Los Alamos National Laboratory into Mexico City, Mexico last Tuesday; evidently, border guards did not inspect the cargo. PAHO later determined that lab officials had never authorized the drivers to transport such cargo. No one realized how dangerous that truck’s cargo was until dozens of workers at the Mexican foundry where the metal was delivered began to experience symptoms of radiation poisoning. PAHO continues to investigate the situation, trying to determine who decided to transport the dangerous truckload of scrap metal. In the meantime, Mexico has complained to Washington about the incident, and our government has responded by apologizing to the Mexicans and giving them dozens of radiation detection devices.
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