Nominalisation and formal register
decide → decision, the increase in prices, Latin-based verbs and phrasal verbs.
Formal written English often turns verbs into nouns to be more concise and impersonal.
| Everyday style | Formal style (nominalised) |
|---|---|
| Prices rose sharply. | There was a sharp rise in prices. |
| We decided to close the factory. | The decision was made to close the factory. |
| If you don't pay, … | Failure to pay will result in… |
| Because they arrived late, … | Owing to their late arrival, … |
Latin-based verbs and phrasal verbs
| Spoken / everyday | Written / formal |
|---|---|
| find out | discover, ascertain |
| put off | postpone |
| go up | increase, rise |
| look into | investigate, examine |
| get | obtain, receive, become |
| carry on | continue |
Test yourself
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Nominalise: The company expanded rapidly.
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The company's rapid expansion… -
Formal version of «put off the meeting»?
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postpone the meeting -
Complete: There has been a sharp increase ___ unemployment.
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in -
Complete: We need to find a solution ___ this problem.
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to