Nominalisation

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”?

Nominalisation is the act, as adored by solicitors as it is loathed by anyone who cares for the English language, of emasculating a perfectly usable verb by converting it into a noun (or adjective) and jamming a more boring 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 vouchsafing the emasculation of a perfectly usable verb by effecting its conversion into a noun (or adjective) and ensuring the jammery of a more boring verb in front of it.

Dead give aways: the string “ion of ”

Effecting a nominalisation: grammatical cross-dressing

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.

See also

• obligated