Skip to main content

Beware of nominalizations (AKA zombie nouns) - Helen Sword

1,115,713 Views

12,361 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Few mistakes sour good writing like nominalizations, or, as Helen Sword likes to call them, zombie nouns. Zombie nouns transform simple and straightforward prose into verbose and often confusing writing. Keep your nouns away from elongating nominalizations!

Nominalizations are

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Animator Bran Dougherty-Johnson
  • Sound Designer Hatfarm
  • Educator Helen Sword
  • Narrator Helen Sword

More from The Writer's Workshop