# 15. Linguistic manipulation ## 15.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 15.5.4. Syntactic manipulation #### 15.5.4.4. Nominalization This is similar to using the passive voice in that it removes specific details from the script of a story by neutralising specifics of an event, such as the participants, timing or modality. This is done by exchanging a verb phrase describing an unpleasant action for a single noun phrase describing an event. For example, "The demonstrator was taken to hospital after being beaten by several policemen" or "The demonstrator received hospital treatment after a beating by several policemen". The latter is more neutral about the action of the policemen than the former.