The analysis of the data (packing an action into a subject) (C1 Grammar)

This is a formal, academic move: it turns an action into a noun phrase so a whole idea can sit as one subject. The verb becomes its noun, and when the action had an object, the link word of joins the noun to what it acted on: "The researchers analyzed the data" becomes "The researchers' analysis of the data ...". Reach for it in written, academic prose when you want to name an action and then comment on it; in speech, the plain verb is usually clearer.

Turn the action into a thing: analyzed → the analysis of

• The researchers analyzed the data. → The researchers' analysis of the data was thorough.
• The committee decided quickly. → The committee's quick decision surprised everyone.
• The team developed the tool. → The team's development of the tool took two years.
• Not "The researchers' analysis the data was thorough." — say "The researchers' analysis of the data was thorough.". When the original action had an object, the noun still needs a link word — of — to reach what the action was done to. Drop it and the phrase breaks.
• Try it: The board reviewed the budget. Turn the action into a noun phrase, linked with of. (Leave out the word you don't need.) Answer: the board's review of the budget was careful. — The action reviewed becomes the noun review, and because it had an object it is linked with of: the board's review of the budget. "Reviewed" is the finite verb this move replaces, so it is left out. The noun version lets the whole idea sit as one subject — the density formal writing wants.

Same move for happenings — and pick the right link word

The move also turns a happening into a noun phrase: "The economy expanded rapidly" becomes "The rapid expansion of the economy ...", where the describing word (rapidly) becomes a describing word in front of the thing (rapid). The link word is usually of. Words for a numeric change up or down (rise, fall, increase, decrease, decline) use two link words for two different jobs: in names what is changing — "The sharp rise in prices ..." — while of names how big the change is: "a rise of three percent". So use in when the next word is the thing that moved.

• The economy expanded rapidly. → The rapid expansion of the economy worried analysts.
• Prices rose sharply. → The sharp rise in prices alarmed shoppers.
• The population grew steadily. → The steady growth of the population strained services.
• Not "The sharp rise of prices alarmed shoppers." — say "The sharp rise in prices alarmed shoppers.". With rise, fall, increase, decrease and decline, in introduces the thing that changed. Keep of for the size of the change: a rise of three percent.
• Try it: Unemployment increased steadily. Turn the happening into a noun phrase. Pick the right link word. (Leave out the words you don't need.) Answer: the steady increase in unemployment concerned the board. — The happening increased becomes the noun increase, with steadily reshaped to steady in front. Unemployment is the thing that changed, so it links with in. "Of" would be the choice for the size of the change (an increase of two percent), which is not what this sentence names. "Increased" is the finite verb the move replaces, so it is left out.

When to pack it dense — and when not to

Nominalization is a formal, academic tool, not an all-purpose upgrade. Use it in written prose when you want to name an action or trend and then say something about it — it packs a clause into a subject. In speech, instructions, or anything that must read easily, prefer the plain verb: it is clearer and lighter. Think of a scale from plain to dense: "We analyzed the data and found ..." (plain, spoken) → "Our analysis of the data revealed ..." (dense, academic). Stacking noun after noun tips past useful density into heavy, unreadable prose.

• Plain (spoken): We cut costs, and profits recovered.
• Dense (academic): The reduction of costs led to a recovery in profits.
• Too dense (avoid): The achievement of a reduction of costs enabled the facilitation of a recovery in profits.
• Not "In the meeting we did a discussion of the making of a decision about the reduction of costs." — say "In the meeting we discussed deciding how to cut costs.". Nominalization is for formal written density. Stacking several noun groups, or using them where a plain verb would do, makes the sentence harder — not sharper.
• Try it: The author revised the manuscript thoroughly. Build the dense version for a formal report: verb to noun, joined with of. (Leave out the word you don't need.) Answer: the thorough revision of the manuscript took months. — The action revised becomes the noun revision, with thoroughly reshaped to thorough; because the action had an object, it links with of: the thorough revision of the manuscript. "Revised" is the finite verb being replaced, so it is left out. Packing the idea into a noun phrase is the heart of formal density — exactly the register a report wants.
• Try it: You could be giving a quick spoken update to a teammate, who wants to grasp it instantly — or writing the opening sentence of a formal research report, where you name a trend and then comment on it. Where does the dense noun version "The analysis of the data revealed a decline in sales" belong, rather than the plain "We analyzed the data and saw sales drop"? (The quick spoken update / The formal research report) Answer: The formal research report — The dense noun version fits the formal report: it packs the action into a subject so the writer can comment on it in an academic register. In the spoken update the plain verb ("We analyzed the data and saw sales drop") is clearer and lighter — nominalizing there would only slow the listener down.