What are buried verbs and zombie nouns? Give an original example. Why should writers avoid buried verbs?

Buried verbs are words that are unnecessarily and needlessly converted to wordy noun expressions. When such nouns are converted, they often end with –tion, -ment, and –ance.

Such nouns that are converted this way are known as Zombie nouns.

Examples:

Buried verbs: require, maintain, sustain, etc.

Zombie nouns: requirement, maintenance, sustenance, etc.

Buried verbs: to be consider as, to be seen as, make a discussion, etc.

Unburied verbs: consider, seen, discuss, etc.

Writers are to avoid buried verbs because they make writing sound formal and difficult to read, understand and assimilate. When buried verbs are avoided by writers, their writings become easier to read and understand.

Also, zombie nouns increase the length of sentences and make the reader slow in reading.

just took the test;

argument: "it's time to wage a war against britain to secure american freedom."

claims: "america has tried every peaceful method available for seperating from england" & "the americans' petitions to the king have been turned away by him."

the answer is slaves

douglas was a slave who turned into a statesman and he refused to celebrate the 4th of july until all slaves were emancipated or set free.