Noun Stacks (aka Stacked Nouns)

You create noun stacks when you use two or more nouns as adjectives to modify another noun: (Modifying) Noun + (Modifying) Noun + (Modified) Noun = Noun Stack

 

Why Are Noun Stacks Bad?

Noun stacks create confusing sentences. Eliminate noun stacks so your readers can clearly understand the meaning of your sentence.

 

How Can You Eliminate Noun Stacks?

Break up noun stacks by

• inserting prepositions
• inserting prepositional phrases
• adding adjectives
• creating adjective clauses
• eliminating unnecessary words
• changing nominalizations (verbs acting as nouns) to action verbs

 

Examples

Noun Stack The lab tutor evaluation form is next to the suggestion box.
Correction The form for evaluating tutors in the lab is next to the suggestion box.

Noun Stack The furniture warehouse distribution center meeting addressed concerns about the bedroom furniture supply.
Correction The meeting about the warehouse that distributes the furniture addressed concerns about the supply of bedroom furniture.

 

Exercises

Correct the Noun Stacks in the following sentences:

1. The panda habitat preservation fundraiser dinner raised $3,000.

2. Richard went to the high school football coach anger management therapy session.

3. Martha dropped her son off at the student academic initiative discussion group.

4. Peter attended the technical communication noun stack elimination symposium.

5. Frenchy attended the beauty school dropout support group meeting.

 

Answers

1. The fundraiser dinner raised $3,000 to preserve panda habitats.

2. Richard went to the therapy session on anger management for people who coach football at high schools.

3. Martha dropped her son off at the discussion group for academic initiative for students.

4. Peter attended the symposium for technical communication about eliminating noun stacks.

5. Frenchy attended the meeting of a support group for people who dropped out of beauty school.

 

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