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Nominalization

 

Techniques > Use of language > Parts of speech > Nominalization

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

 

Description

A nominalized verb is one that is turned into into a noun.

'-ion' at the end of a word is a good indicator of a likely nominalized verb. Another good test is whether you can turn it back into a verb.

Thus:

Act becomes action
Discuss becomes discussion
Arrive becomes arrival
Pay becomes payment

Use nominalizations to formalize or create distance.

Example

It was not my decision.

Consideration of this would be appreciated.

Departure will commence in five minutes.

Discussion

'Nominalization' is itself a nominalization of 'to nominalize'.

Nominalizing a verb turns it into an object that can, literally, be viewed objectively. This separates it from people, decreasing emotional attachment and facilitating the objective examination. This is one reason why this style is common in formal business and academic reporting.

Nominalizing can be used to distance a person from their actions. This can appear as an excuse or may be a practical therapeutic technique.

The distancing and objective sense of a nominalized verb makes it ideal for formal situations.

See also

Using Verbs, Using Nouns, Objectification, Active and passive verbs

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

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Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

– About
– Guest Articles
– Blog!
– Books
– Changes
– Contact
– Guestbook
– Quotes
– Students
– Webmasters

 

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