EU Translation Guide: Cut out excess nouns – verb forms are livelier

One simple way to write more dearly is to change …

• this (BAD)… => … to this (GOOD):
   
• by the destruction of => by destroying
• for the maximisation of => for maximising
• of the introduction of => of introducing

By making this change, we are simply turning a noun back into a verb. Verbs are more direct and less abstract than nouns. Many nouns ending in ‘-ion’ are simply verbs in disguise. They often occur in phrases like those below, where verbs would be clearer:

• carry out an evaluation of => evaluate
• hold an investigation of => investigate
• give consideration to => consider

There are other nouns that don’t end in ‘-ion’ but which are also verbs in disguise:

• conduct a review of => review
• perform an assessment of => assess
• effect a renewal of => renew

So we can make a document clearer by turning some nouns back into verbs:

• BAD: The practice of growing perennials instead of annual crops can bring about an improvement of soil quality by effecting an increase in soil cover.
• GOOD: Growing perennials instead of annual crops can improve soil quality by increasing soil cover.

Source: European Commission