Representing actions with nouns
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Examples from a variety of text types | page 8 of 10 |
Business memos, letters and reports
Here is an example of the sort of writing found in a business memo:
RE: Prevention of wasteful use of stationery
This is a reminder that wasteful practices will lead to an increase in expenditure and a concomitant reduction in profits.
Some comments concerning business writing
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Business writing (like any other type of technical writing) is concerned
with categorising, labelling, and describing the phenomena associated with the world of
commerce and bureaucracy. 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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One of the unfortunate side-effects of nominalisation is that it is sometimes used by people in business settings both to exclude certain people (who may not have the necessary background information), and even, to "show off". Note too that overuse of nominalised forms can result in writing which is not easy to understand. |
Introduction
Business memos, letters and reports
