So-called Zombie nouns– nouns with more than two syllables – are often accompanied by prepositions, which can make your text heavy to read.
Solutions to lighten the text may include using a gerund, rephrasing or making a compound noun.
Let’s identify some of them and then ask artificial intelligence (AI) to help us reduce them. You have to explicitly tell AI what to do or it will think they are just fine.
Here are the original sentences with the zombie nouns and prepositions in bold and underlined.
You can try to rephrase before looking at AI’s suggestions.
- After the installation of the solar system, the facility now has access to an uninterrupted electricity supply.
- The incumbent is expected to support the establishment of a partnership for integrated disease surveillance (IDS) and to develop a comprehensive package for IDS implementation in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). This role requires extensive engagement with various stakeholders at global and regional levels.
- By effectively engaging stakeholders through strategic outreach, we will create a network of advocates, supporters, and champions who share the WHO vision of improving global health outcomes. This document will outline our approach, objectives, and key activities to guide our outreach efforts and facilitate the achievement of our mission.
Answer key
Suggestions by AI tools (Copilot, ChatGPT and Wordtune):
Would you agree with suggestion no. 1?
1 Copilot: Sure, here are the sentences with the zombie nouns transformed into gerunds or verbs:
After installing the solar system, the facility now enjoys uninterrupted electricity supply.
Note: It may sound like the facility installed the solar system, so this one may need rephrasing to be clear.
For example: After having the solar system installed, the facility now enjoys an uninterrupted electricity supply.
2 Wordtune:
The incumbent will actively establish partnerships for integrated disease surveillance and implement a comprehensive IDS package in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The position demands significant collaboration with multiple stakeholders across both global and regional spheres.
3 Copilot: Here’s a version with fewer prepositions:
Effectively engaging stakeholders with strategic outreach will create a network of advocates, supporters, and champions sharing the WHO vision to improve global health outcomes. This document outlines our approach, objectives, and key activities to guide our outreach efforts and achieve our mission.
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Author: Carol Waites
Presentation/editing by Christina O’Shaughnessy
https://worldwidewriting.org/
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Carol Waites (PhD)
Email: carolswritingtips@gmail.com
For more writing tips, consult my website:
https://carolswritingtips.com/writingtips/
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