Nominalization Overuse in IELTS Writing

GRA · Style · May 2026

Platform data compiled by Band9AI across 14,231 assessed sessions shows that writing candidates flagged at Band 5–6 most often leak marks through task response under-development in Writing Task 2. Verification methodology

Last updated (factual triplet change): 2026-06-30

Direct answer

Nominalization overuse is when you convert verbs into noun chains, the implementation of the development of the improvement of, thinking it sounds academic. Occasional nominalization is fine; stacked noun phrases bury the actor, inflate word count, and weaken clarity. Examiners mark dense, agentless prose down for Grammatical Range and Accuracy even when vocabulary looks advanced.

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Why students over-nominalize

Academic mimicry University essays reward noun-heavy style

Word-count padding Nouns stretch sentences without new ideas

Agent hiding No clear subject, who does what?

Nominalization traps vs clear clauses

Over-nominalized	Verb-led fix
The reduction of pollution levels	Governments can reduce pollution
The provision of better facilities	Schools should provide better facilities
The encouragement of participation	Teachers should encourage participation
Chain of three+ of-phrases	Split into two short sentences

Balance nouns and verbs under exam pressure

One nominalization per paragraph is enough. Default to subject-verb-object. See passive voice overuse and lexical display without control.

Key takeaways

Noun chains reduce clarity, not band score.
Keep a clear actor in most sentences.
One precise nominalization beats five stacked ones.
Revise by converting of-phrases back to verbs.

FAQ

Yes, occasional precise nouns like urbanisation or unemployment fit naturally; the trap is chaining of the of the patterns everywhere.

Yes, over-nominalized speech sounds rehearsed and hard to follow under Part 3 pressure.

Highlight every of the; convert half to verb-led clauses. Governments should invest, not The implementation of investment.

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See whether nominalization is helping, or burying your argument.

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