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Nominalisation — itself, a nominalisation of the verb to “nominalise”[1] — is the act, as adored by solicitors as it is loathed by anyone who cares for the English language, of gutting a precise verb, by converting it into a noun and jamming a general verb in front of it.
Or should I say:
- Nominalisation is the act, which induces adoration in solicitors as much as it effects a sensation of loathing in anyone having a fondness for the English language, of ensuring the evisceration of a precise verb by effecting its conversion into a noun (or adjective) and ensuring the jammery of a general verb in front of it.
Dead give aways:
Examples
- Why say “have visibility of” when you mean “see”?
- Why say “issue a notification to” when you mean “tell”?
- Why say “have a discussion about” when you mean “discuss”?
- Why say “we are supportive of” when you mean “we support”?
- Why say “have the appearance of being” when you mean “seem”?
Effecting the worst kind of nominalisation
The worst kind of nominalisation goes a step further: not only must the poor verb dress up as a noun; an equally unsuspecting noun must behave like a verb. “Effect” is this kind of nominalisation:
- Why say “effect the conversion of shares” when you mean “convert the shares”?
See also
References