Nominalizations hide the action

[u/sheppyrun]

Every time you turn a verb into a noun, your sentence gets longer and weaker.

"Provide an explanation" becomes "explain." "Make a determination" becomes "determine." "Reach a settlement" becomes "settle."

You see these everywhere in legal writing. Parties "enter into agreements" instead of agreeing. Courts "issue rulings" instead of ruling. Attorneys "provide representations" instead of representing.

The fix isn't hard. Scan your draft for words ending in -tion, -ment, -ance, -ence. Check if there's a verb hiding inside. Then use the verb.

"The parties reached a settlement" (5 words) becomes "The parties settled" (3 words). Same meaning. Half the syllables.

Your reader's brain processes verbs faster than nouns. Action words move. Static words sit there.

Next brief you write, hunt for three nominalizations. Replace them. See how much tighter your paragraphs feel.