Nominalizations

Nouns made from verbs, and the verbs that usually say it faster.

A nominalization is a noun made from a verb or an adjective: decision from decide, implementation from implement, failure from fail. They are useful names for ideas, but they pile up in formal writing and drain the action out of sentences. “The committee made a decision regarding the implementation of the policy” becomes “The committee decided how to implement the policy”: fewer words, and the actor and the action are back in view.

This list pairs 188 common nominalizations with the verb inside them. Each entry includes the plural, and British spellings where they differ. A few point to a plainer verb than the obvious one, such as termination to end.

The editor marks nominalizations with a green double underline. Not every one needs changing: “the decision” is fine when the decision itself is your subject, and terms like assessment or installation are often the clearest name for a thing. Rewrite when the noun hides who did what. The guide Nominalizations has before-and-after examples.

The list (188 entries)

acceptance→accept

achievement→achieve

acknowledgment→acknowledge

acquisition→acquire

adherence→adhere

adjustment→adjust

admission→admit

agreement→agree

allocation→allocate

alteration→alter

amendment→amend

analysis→analyze

announcement→announce

anticipation→expect

appearance→appear

approval→approve

arrangement→arrange

arrival→arrive

assessment→assess

assumption→assume

assurance→assure

authorization→authorize

avoidance→avoid

calculation→calculate

cancellation→cancel

categorization→categorize

centralization→centralize

characterization→characterize

clarification→clarify

combination→combine

comparison→compare

completion→complete

compliance→comply

computation→compute

conclusion→conclude

confirmation→confirm

conformance→conform

consideration→consider

consolidation→consolidate

consultation→consult

continuation→continue

contribution→contribute

conversion→convert

cooperation→cooperate

coordination→coordinate

correction→correct

creation→create

criticism→criticize

customization→customize

decision→decide

definition→define

deletion→delete

delivery→deliver

demonstration→demonstrate

denial→deny

departure→leave

dependence→depend

description→describe

destruction→destroy

deterioration→deteriorate

determination→determine

disappearance→disappear

disclosure→disclose

discovery→discover

discussion→discuss

dismissal→dismiss

disposal→dispose of

disruption→disrupt

distribution→distribute

elaboration→elaborate

elimination→eliminate

emergence→emerge

emphasis→emphasize

encouragement→encourage

endorsement→endorse

enforcement→enforce

enhancement→enhance

enrollment→enroll

establishment→establish

estimation→estimate

evaluation→evaluate

examination→examine

exclusion→exclude

existence→exist

expansion→expand

expectation→expect

explanation→explain

exploration→explore

extension→extend

facilitation→help

failure→fail

finalization→finalize

formulation→formulate

fulfillment→fulfill

guidance→guide

hesitation→hesitate

identification→identify

implementation→implement

imposition→impose

improvement→improve

inclusion→include

indication→indicate

inference→infer

insistence→insist

inspection→inspect

installation→install

integration→integrate

intention→intend

interference→interfere

interpretation→interpret

interruption→interrupt

intervention→intervene

introduction→introduce

investigation→investigate

investment→invest

invitation→invite

involvement→involve

justification→justify

limitation→limit

maintenance→maintain

maximization→maximize

measurement→measure

minimization→minimize

mitigation→mitigate

modernization→modernize

modification→modify

negotiation→negotiate

normalization→normalize

notification→notify

objection→object

observation→observe

occurrence→occur

optimization→optimize

organization→organize

participation→participate

payment→pay

performance→perform

persuasion→persuade

preference→prefer

preparation→prepare

prevention→prevent

prioritization→prioritize

proposal→propose

protection→protect

provision→provide

reaction→react

realization→realize

reassurance→reassure

recognition→recognize

recommendation→recommend

reconciliation→reconcile

reduction→reduce

refusal→refuse

registration→register

reinforcement→reinforce

rejection→reject

reliance→rely

removal→remove

renewal→renew

reorganization→reorganize

repetition→repeat

replacement→replace

resistance→resist

resolution→resolve

response→respond

restoration→restore

restriction→restrict

retention→retain

revision→revise

satisfaction→satisfy

separation→separate

simplification→simplify

solution→solve

specification→specify

stabilization→stabilize

standardization→standardize

submission→submit

substitution→substitute

suggestion→suggest

summarization→summarize

supervision→supervise

suspension→suspend

termination→end

transformation→transform

transmission→send

usage→use

verification→verify

violation→violate