A nominalization is when you turn a verb or adjective into a noun, usually as a direct object. This generally necessitates that you use some form of the verb "to be," which creates a passive sentence structure where an inanimate object, concept or thing is the subject of the sentence and is simply "being" rather than doing something. Here are some examples.

There was considerable erosion of the land from the floods.
vs
The floods considerably eroded the land.

The instability of the motor housing did not preclude the completion
of the field trials.
vs
Even though the motor housing was unstable, the research staff
completed the field trials.

Our discussion concerned a tax cut.
vs
We discussed a tax cut.

Their cessation of hostilities was because of their personnel losses.
vs
They ceased hostilities because they lost personnel.

Nominalization: turning a verb or an adjective into a noun

discover -> discovery careless -> carelessness
move -> movement difficult -> difficulty
react -> reaction different -> difference
fail -> failure applicable -> applicability
refuse -> refusal intense -> intensity



There are only a few instances where it is really necessary to use a nominalization. Nine times out of ten, an author can reform the sentence so it has actors/actions rather than "things" in a state of "being"

[vs--Nine times out of ten a sentence can be reformed by an author into one involving actions]




----My mother was an english teacher, and i was schooled by penguins with rulers that made me diagram sentences-----




[edit]. There are some times when you intentionally want to use a nominalization, such as to distract attention from an actor.

The victim was brutally slain
vs
The defendant killed the victim


Nominalization are often incorrectly used by the media coupled with personifications... e.g.

Another cylist killed by carelessness of SUV
vs
A man who carelessly drove his SUV struck and killed the cyclist


Here is a rough paraphrasing of a paper i remember grading:

The complexity of the issue of foreign policy is obfuscated due to misconceived notions of politicians regarding the appropriateness of being consistent.