How do you punctuate a list of adjectives?

How do you punctuate a list of adjectives?

A series of adjectives A list of adjectives usually requires commas. However, if an adjective is modifying another adjective you do not separate them with a comma (sentence 3).

When to use comma in a list of adjectives?

A comma should be used to separate two or more co-ordinate adjectives that describe the same noun. Or to put it more simply, if you’re using two similar words to describe a thing, person, place, animal or idea you should use a comma to separate them. She worked in a happy, relaxed office.

How do you punctuate multiple adjectives?

You should use a comma between two adjectives when they are coordinate adjectives. Coordinate adjectives are two or more adjectives that describe the same noun equally. With coordinate adjectives you can put “and” between them and the meaning is the same.

Do you use a comma when listing 3 things?

As mentioned above, when you are listing three or more items, commas should separate each element of the list. However, the final comma—the one that comes before the and—is optional. This comma is called the serial comma or the Oxford comma. Whether or not you use the serial comma is a style choice.

Do you need a comma after every adjective?

Style and usage guides such as Claire Cook’s Line by Line (111) and The Chicago Manual of Style (“Commas”) suggest a simple test: try replacing the comma with and or reversing the order of the adjectives; if the resulting phrase sounds idiomatic, the adjectives are coordinate and thus require a comma between them.

Can you use three adjectives in a row?

The order of adjectives when using two or more adjectives. There are general rules for using two or more adjectives together. In most cases adjectives are placed before the noun. It is not common to used more then 3 adjectives together, but it is possible and is grammatically correct.

Do you need a comma at the end of a list?

The final comma in a list of items is known as an Oxford comma or serial comma. Some writers omit it, but doing so can cause confusion. In the example immediately above, the serial comma makes it clear that the writer is taking two separate economics courses next semester. Omitting the serial comma makes this unclear.

How do you arrange multiple adjectives in a sentence?

When you use more than one adjective, you have to put them in the right order, according to type. It is correct to write, “I have a small red car”, but it is not correct to write, “I have a red small car”. When you use two adjectives together, you sometimes use “and” between them and you sometimes don’t.

What is the Oxford comma rule?

The Oxford comma is the comma placed before the conjunction at the end of a list of things. For example, in “the flag was red, white, and blue”, the Oxford comma would be the one appearing before “and”. Proponents of the Oxford comma say it’s necessary for removing ambiguity in sentences.

How are adjectives arranged in English?

Here are some invented examples of longer adjective phrases….Order of adjectives.

order relating to examples
1 opinion unusual, lovely, beautiful
2 size big, small, tall
3 physical quality thin, rough, untidy
4 shape round, square, rectangular

How do you put three adjectives together?

When there are three or more adjectives from the same adjective group. Place a comma between each of the adjectives. A comma is not placed between an adjective and the noun. We live in the big green white and red house at the end of the street.

Can you have 3 adjectives in a row?

It is not common to used more then three adjectives together, but it is possible and is grammatically correct. I love that really old big green antique car that always parks at the end of the street. My sister has a beautiful big tan and white, bulldog.

Why the Oxford comma is unnecessary?

Regardless of the order, a proper noun and a common noun would be next to each other in a list, and an Oxford comma would allow readers to mistake one as a clarification of the previous noun. Another reason to skip the Oxford comma is to save time, both for the writer and reader.

Do you use a comma when Listing 2 things?

When there are two items in a list, don’t use a comma to separate the list items (unless it helps your reader). For example: Please buy bread and milk. Please buy custard, and banana muffins.

What is the rule for ordering adjectives?

The rule is that multiple adjectives are always ranked accordingly: opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose. Unlike many laws of grammar or syntax, this one is virtually inviolable, even in informal speech. You simply can’t say My Greek Fat Big Wedding, or leather walking brown boots.

  • September 14, 2022