Why Your Writing Suffers from Zombie Nouns and the Curse of Prior Knowledge
In short: Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker argues that rigid grammar rules often hinder clarity. By avoiding the passive voice blindly and falling prey to 'zombie nouns'—words transformed into abstract entities—writers frequently obscure their meaning. Pinker suggests that effective communication requires understanding how the mind processes language rather than following arbitrary stylistic mandates.
In a lecture delivered on September 1, 2015, at The University of Manchester, Steven Pinker challenged conventional wisdom regarding writing style. Pinker, a professor of psychology at Harvard University and author of The Sense of Style, addressed an audience of over 550 people. He emphasized that many widely cited grammar rules are actually myths, noting that the most accomplished writers throughout history have frequently ignored them. Instead of adhering to rigid prescriptions, Pinker advocates for evidence-based writing practices derived from the actual habits of successful authors.
A central focus of Pinker’s critique is the 'zombie noun,' a term originally coined by author Helen Sword. These linguistic constructs occur when writers take a perfectly functional verb or adjective and transform it into an abstract noun by appending suffixes such as 'tion,' 'ity,' or 'ism.' These nouns are described as zombies because they drain the life and action out of a sentence, turning dynamic processes into static, heavy concepts that are harder for the reader to visualize and comprehend.
Beyond stylistic choices, Pinker warns writers about the 'curse of prior knowledge.' This cognitive trap occurs when an author assumes their audience possesses the same level of familiarity with a subject as they do. By failing to account for the reader's perspective, writers often leave gaps in their explanations, leading to confusion. Pinker’s work, which includes titles like The Language Instinct and How the Mind Works, consistently highlights that good writing is not about following arbitrary rules, but about facilitating the transfer of ideas from one mind to another with precision and clarity.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Zombie Nouns and the Passive Voice in Writing - with Steven Pinker
- Also: Steven Pinker on zombie nouns and the curse of prior knowledge
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