Do You Put A Comma Between Two Adjectives

The English language, with its nuances and intricacies, often presents challenges even to native speakers. One such challenge lies in the proper use of commas, particularly when dealing with adjectives. Knowing when to place a comma between two adjectives can significantly impact the clarity and readability of your writing. This article delves into the rules governing comma usage between adjectives, providing a comprehensive guide to help you master this aspect of grammar.

Understanding Adjectives: A Quick Review

Before diving into the specifics of comma usage, let's briefly revisit what adjectives are and how they function in sentences. Adjectives are words that modify nouns or pronouns, providing descriptive details about their qualities, characteristics, or attributes. They add richness and depth to our language, allowing us to paint vivid pictures with words.

For example, in the phrase "a tall, dark, and handsome stranger," the words tall, dark, and handsome are all adjectives describing the noun "stranger."

The Core Rule: Coordinate vs. Cumulative Adjectives

The key to determining whether to use a comma between two adjectives lies in understanding the difference between coordinate adjectives and cumulative adjectives.

Coordinate Adjectives

Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that modify the same noun independently and equally. They can be interchanged without affecting the meaning of the sentence, and they can be joined by the word "and" without sounding awkward.

Here's how to identify coordinate adjectives:

1. Interchangeability: Can you switch the order of the adjectives without changing the meaning of the sentence?
2. "And" Test: Does the sentence still make sense if you insert the word "and" between the adjectives?

If the answer to both of these questions is "yes," then the adjectives are coordinate and should be separated by a comma.

Examples:

• "She had a bright, cheerful smile."
  • Can we say "She had a cheerful, bright smile?" Yes.
  • Can we say "She had a bright and cheerful smile?" Yes.
  • Therefore, "bright" and "cheerful" are coordinate adjectives, and a comma is needed.
• "He lived in a large, comfortable house."
  • Can we say "He lived in a comfortable, large house?" Yes.
  • Can we say "He lived in a large and comfortable house?" Yes.
  • Therefore, "large" and "comfortable" are coordinate adjectives, and a comma is needed.
• "The old, decrepit car sputtered down the road."
  • Can we say "The decrepit, old car sputtered down the road?" Yes.
  • Can we say "The old and decrepit car sputtered down the road?" Yes.
  • Therefore, "old" and "decrepit" are coordinate adjectives, and a comma is needed.

Cumulative Adjectives

Cumulative adjectives, on the other hand, build upon each other to modify the noun. They cannot be interchanged, and inserting "and" between them would sound unnatural or nonsensical. Cumulative adjectives often include adjectives that express subjective opinion or qualities, followed by more objective, factual descriptions.

Here's how to identify cumulative adjectives:

1. Interchangeability: Can you switch the order of the adjectives without changing the meaning of the sentence? If the answer is no, they are likely cumulative.
2. "And" Test: Does the sentence sound awkward or incorrect if you insert the word "and" between the adjectives? If the answer is yes, they are likely cumulative.

Examples:

• "She wore a beautiful blue dress."
  • Can we say "She wore a blue beautiful dress?" No.
  • Can we say "She wore a beautiful and blue dress?" No.
  • Therefore, "beautiful" and "blue" are cumulative adjectives, and no comma is needed.
• "He lived in a small brick house."
  • Can we say "He lived in a brick small house?" No.
  • Can we say "He lived in a small and brick house?" No.
  • Therefore, "small" and "brick" are cumulative adjectives, and no comma is needed.
• "They adopted a friendly golden retriever."
  • Can we say "They adopted a golden friendly retriever?" No.
  • Can we say "They adopted a friendly and golden retriever?" No.
  • Therefore, "friendly" and "golden" are cumulative adjectives, and no comma is needed.

The Order of Cumulative Adjectives

While cumulative adjectives don't require commas between them, they typically follow a specific order. This order, though not always strictly enforced, helps ensure clarity and naturalness in writing. A helpful mnemonic device to remember this order is "OSASCOMP":

• Opinion: beautiful, ugly, delicious, terrible
• Size: large, small, tiny, huge
• Age: old, new, ancient, modern
• Shape: round, square, triangular, flat
• Color: red, blue, green, yellow
• Origin: Italian, French, American, Japanese
• Material: wooden, plastic, metal, cotton
• Purpose: writing (as in a writing desk), gardening (as in gardening gloves)

Therefore, if you have multiple cumulative adjectives, try to arrange them in this order for the most natural-sounding sentence.

Examples:

• A delicious small round cookie (Opinion, Size, Shape)
• An old wooden table (Age, Material)
• A beautiful Italian leather bag (Opinion, Origin, Material)

Common Pitfalls and Exceptions

While the rules for coordinate and cumulative adjectives are generally straightforward, there are some common pitfalls and exceptions to be aware of:

• Compound Adjectives: When two or more words function as a single adjective before a noun, they are called a compound adjective. Compound adjectives are typically hyphenated, not separated by a comma.

  • Example: "a well-known author" (not "a well, known author")
  • Example: "a state-of-the-art facility" (not "a state, of, the, art facility")

• Adjectives After the Noun: When adjectives follow the noun they modify (in a predicate adjective construction), they are usually separated by a comma.

  • Example: "The dog, tired and hungry, collapsed on the floor."

• Emphasis: Sometimes, a comma might be used for stylistic emphasis, even if the adjectives are technically cumulative. This is less common in formal writing and should be used sparingly.

  • Example: "She was wearing a stunning, absolutely stunning gown." (Here, the comma emphasizes the intensity of the adjective "stunning.")

• Numbers as Adjectives: Numbers used as adjectives generally do not take a comma.

  • Example: "He bought three large pizzas." (not "He bought three, large pizzas.")

Examples to Practice

Let's test your understanding with some examples:

1. The fluffy white cat slept soundly.
2. She wore a long, flowing gown.
3. He drove an old, beat-up truck.
4. They lived in a charming little cottage.
5. The bright red car sped past.
6. The talented young artist displayed her work.
7. He was a kind, generous man.
8. She had a small, delicate nose.
9. They enjoyed a peaceful summer evening.
10. The delicious homemade bread filled the kitchen with its aroma.

Answers and Explanations:

1. The fluffy white cat slept soundly. (Cumulative - No comma needed. We wouldn't say "The white fluffy cat" or "The fluffy and white cat.")
2. She wore a long, flowing gown. (Coordinate - Comma needed. We could say "She wore a flowing, long gown" or "She wore a long and flowing gown.")
3. He drove an old, beat-up truck. (Coordinate - Comma needed. We could say "He drove a beat-up, old truck" or "He drove an old and beat-up truck.")
4. They lived in a charming little cottage. (Cumulative - No comma needed. We wouldn't say "They lived in a little charming cottage" or "They lived in a charming and little cottage.")
5. The bright red car sped past. (Cumulative - No comma needed. We wouldn't say "The red bright car" or "The bright and red car.")
6. The talented young artist displayed her work. (Cumulative - No comma needed. We wouldn't say "The young talented artist" or "The talented and young artist.")
7. He was a kind, generous man. (Coordinate - Comma needed. We could say "He was a generous, kind man" or "He was a kind and generous man.")
8. She had a small, delicate nose. (Coordinate - Comma needed. We could say "She had a delicate, small nose" or "She had a small and delicate nose.")
9. They enjoyed a peaceful summer evening. (Cumulative - No comma needed. We wouldn't say "They enjoyed a summer peaceful evening" or "They enjoyed a peaceful and summer evening.")
10. The delicious homemade bread filled the kitchen with its aroma. (Cumulative - No comma needed. We wouldn't say "The homemade delicious bread" or "The delicious and homemade bread.")

The Importance of Correct Comma Usage

Proper comma usage between adjectives isn't just about adhering to grammatical rules; it's about enhancing clarity and preventing misinterpretations. A misplaced or omitted comma can alter the meaning of a sentence, leading to confusion for the reader.

For instance, consider the difference between:

• "a friendly, intelligent dog" (The dog is both friendly and intelligent.)
• "a friendly intelligent dog" (The dog is intelligent and belongs to the category of friendly dogs, implying there might be other kinds of intelligent dogs.)

In the first example, the comma indicates that "friendly" and "intelligent" are separate, equal descriptors. In the second example, the absence of a comma suggests that "friendly" modifies "intelligent dog," creating a compound description.

Refining Your Writing Skills

Mastering comma usage between adjectives takes practice and attention to detail. Here are some tips to help you refine your writing skills:

• Read Widely: Pay attention to how professional writers use commas in their work. Observe the patterns and nuances of their writing.
• Practice Regularly: Write sentences using different combinations of adjectives and analyze whether commas are needed.
• Seek Feedback: Ask a friend, colleague, or writing tutor to review your work and provide constructive criticism.
• Consult Style Guides: Refer to reputable style guides, such as The Chicago Manual of Style or The AP Stylebook, for authoritative guidance on grammar and punctuation.
• Use Online Resources: Take advantage of online grammar checkers and writing tools that can help identify potential errors in your comma usage. However, always review the suggestions critically, as these tools are not always perfect.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between coordinate and cumulative adjectives is essential for mastering comma usage in the English language. By applying the "interchangeability" and "and" tests, you can confidently determine whether to place a comma between two adjectives. Remember to consider the order of cumulative adjectives and be aware of common pitfalls, such as compound adjectives.

With practice and attention to detail, you can refine your writing skills and ensure that your sentences are clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Mastering comma usage between adjectives is a valuable skill that will enhance the quality and professionalism of your writing. So, embrace the challenge, hone your skills, and elevate your writing to the next level.