---
pattern: 27
type: success
name: Zombie Nouns (Excessive Nominalization)
pack: en-structure
language: en
---

# Pattern 27 (en): Zombie Nouns (Excessive Nominalization) — Success Case

## Input Text

> The committee made a decision to conduct an investigation into the matter and provide a recommendation regarding the implementation of improvements to the current system. An evaluation of the available options was performed, and consideration was given to each alternative. The team then carried out an assessment of the projected costs and reached a conclusion that a reduction in overhead spending would have a significant impact on overall profitability.

## Expected Output

> The committee investigated the matter and recommended three changes to the current system. They evaluated each option, weighing projected costs against expected gains. Cutting overhead spending, they concluded, would do the most for profitability.

## Applied Pattern

- Pattern 27 (Zombie Nouns): Six nominalized verb phrases in two paragraphs — "made a decision," "conduct an investigation," "provide a recommendation," "implementation of improvements," "evaluation of the available options was performed," and "consideration was given." Each converts a simple verb into a bloated noun phrase that adds syllables without adding meaning.

## Judgment

**Success** — The fire condition is met: 6 nominalized verb phrases far exceeds the 3+ threshold. Nearly every clause wraps an action inside an abstract noun — "made a decision" instead of "decided," "conduct an investigation" instead of "investigated," "provide a recommendation" instead of "recommended." The corrected version restores active verbs throughout, cutting word count by roughly 40% while preserving all the original information. One noun form ("profitability") is retained because it carries meaning the verb form cannot.
