Representing actions with nouns
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Examples from a variety of text types | page 10 of 10 |
Legal documents
Here is an example of the sort of writing found in legal documents:
Provision that such payment from each of the divisions as aforesaid shall be a requirement precedent to the exercise of the option herein specified.
Adapted from Quirk, R. et al (1985) A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman.
Some comments concerning this excerpt
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Legal writing is concerned with categorising, labelling, and describing
the phenomena associated with the world of law. In order for writers to discuss these
phenomena and express their ideas concisely, it is often necessary for them to use nominalisation  . |
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However, the use of so many nominalisations coupled with the liberal use of such legal terms as aforesaid, precedent and herein makes the writing very difficult to process, and creates an impression of obscurity which most readers find rather offputting. |
Introduction
Legal documents
