phoenixcollege<learningcenter<owl<punctuation;commas<rule10

Rule #10 Commas and Coordinate Adjectives

Rule: Use between coordinate adjectives.

Coordinate adjectives are two or more adjectives which describe the same noun and are from the same classification such as adjectives which state color.

          Example:      My dress is black, red, and blue.

*Writing Tip: You can find out if the adjective needs commas by substituting and between the adjectives.

         Example:      My dress is black and red and blue.

Also you can change order of the adjectives without the sentence sounding strange.

         Example:      My dress is red, black, and blue.

Do not use commas between adjectives which describe other adjectives.

         Example:      The rich vanilla cake was delicious.

Rich tells what kind of vanilla. You can't put and between rich and vanilla.
Also, you can't change the order of the adjectives.

           Example:     The vanilla rich cake sounds awkward.

 

 

previous rule	Comma Rules	next rule
OWL HOME
Phoenix College    |    English Department    |    ESL    |    Learning Center