This post is about the over-use of verb nouns.
By verb nouns I mean things like:
- reduction, optimisation, calibration, etc.
where the verbs are:
- reduce, optimise, calibrate, etc.
Try to use verbs instead of verb nouns where possible.
Don't say:
An optimisation of the fermentation was performed.
Instead say:
The fermentation was optimised.
Although it is not grammatically incorrect to use verb nouns, the text becomes difficult to read when it contains a lot of these words. This is even worse when the sentence is very long and the verb is at the end (see previous post). If you are trying to explain something complex, you your text should be easy to read!
Take the following example:
A reduction of H2S content in the produced biogas of up to 78% in the methanogenic stage of the two-stage process was achieved.... This indicates a release of the formed H2S mainly during the first step... As shown in Figure 2, complete H2S removal was achieved with the acidic biofiltration unit established at inlet concentrations below 6363 ppm H2S.
Better:
The H2S content of the biogas was reduced by up to 78% in the methanogenic stage of the two-stage process.... This indicates that the H2S was mainly released during the first step... As shown in Figure 2, the acidic biofiltration unit completely removed H2S from the inlet gas when the concentration was below 6363 ppm H2S.
Here, I replaced "a reduction" with "was reduced" and "a release" with "was released" and "removal" with "removed".
By verb nouns I mean things like:
- reduction, optimisation, calibration, etc.
where the verbs are:
- reduce, optimise, calibrate, etc.
Try to use verbs instead of verb nouns where possible.
Don't say:
An optimisation of the fermentation was performed.
Instead say:
The fermentation was optimised.
Although it is not grammatically incorrect to use verb nouns, the text becomes difficult to read when it contains a lot of these words. This is even worse when the sentence is very long and the verb is at the end (see previous post). If you are trying to explain something complex, you your text should be easy to read!
Take the following example:
A reduction of H2S content in the produced biogas of up to 78% in the methanogenic stage of the two-stage process was achieved.... This indicates a release of the formed H2S mainly during the first step... As shown in Figure 2, complete H2S removal was achieved with the acidic biofiltration unit established at inlet concentrations below 6363 ppm H2S.
Better:
The H2S content of the biogas was reduced by up to 78% in the methanogenic stage of the two-stage process.... This indicates that the H2S was mainly released during the first step... As shown in Figure 2, the acidic biofiltration unit completely removed H2S from the inlet gas when the concentration was below 6363 ppm H2S.
Here, I replaced "a reduction" with "was reduced" and "a release" with "was released" and "removal" with "removed".
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