Is a comma needed between these two adjectives? “tall white counter”
Is the following sentence correctly punctuated (specifically, is a comma needed between "tall" and "white"?
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat the doctor's secretary.
Thanks so much!
Alex
commas
edited 18 hours ago
Laurel
31.1k660111
asked 18 hours ago
Alex K
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Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
Is the following sentence correctly punctuated (specifically, is a comma needed between "tall" and "white"?
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat the doctor's secretary.
Thanks so much!
Alex
commas
edited 18 hours ago
Laurel
31.1k660111
asked 18 hours ago
Alex K
71
New contributor
Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Is the following sentence correctly punctuated (specifically, is a comma needed between "tall" and "white"?
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat the doctor's secretary.
Thanks so much!
Alex
commas
edited 18 hours ago
Laurel
31.1k660111
asked 18 hours ago
Alex K
71
New contributor
Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Is the following sentence correctly punctuated (specifically, is a comma needed between "tall" and "white"?
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat the doctor's secretary.
Thanks so much!
Alex
commas
commas
edited 18 hours ago
Laurel
31.1k660111
asked 18 hours ago
Alex K
71
New contributor
Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 18 hours ago
Laurel
31.1k660111
asked 18 hours ago
Alex K
71
New contributor
Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 18 hours ago
Laurel
31.1k660111
edited 18 hours ago
Laurel
31.1k660111
edited 18 hours ago
Laurel
31.1k660111
31.1k660111
asked 18 hours ago
Alex K
71
New contributor
Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 18 hours ago
Alex K
71
asked 18 hours ago
Alex K
71
71
New contributor
Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Alex K is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
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votes
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat
the doctor's secretary.
Whether the noun phrase in bold is punctuated correctly or not depends on the intended meaning. In "a rather tall, white counter", "counter" is modified by a coordination of modifiers giving the meaning a "counter that is both rather tall and white".
By contrast, without punctuation, "a rather tall white counter" has two layers of modification called stacking: "counter is modified by "white" to form the nominal "white counter", and this in turn is modified by "rather tall" to give the interpretation "counter that is rather tall by the usual size applicable to white ones".
answered 16 hours ago
BillJ
4,0441913
add a comment |
Yes.
You use a comma between two adjectives that can be interchangeable, meaning you can switch the order and it would still make sense.
For example, I will use your sentence.
Beyond them was a rather tall, white counter
You can switch them, and it would still make sense.
Beyond them was a rather white, tall counter
I will make another example, this time it cannot be interchangeable, so you wouldn't use a comma.
I bought a wardrobe of some cheap winter clothes
If you change the order, it wouldn't make sense:
I bought a wardrobe of some winter cheap clothes
You can read more about it here on grammar book. It not only explains this issue, but also using commas in general.
answered 17 hours ago
Sweet_Cherry
570216
Hi, Thanks for your reply. This is the dilemma I was struggling with. Placing "white" before "tall" sounds off to me. Perhaps it's just me, but placing tall before white sounds better (perhaps, even necessary?). In addition, "rather" is meant to apply to the height of the table, not to the colour of the table. When white is placed before tall, I interpret the sentence to mean that the colour of the counter was somewhat (i.e. rather) white? Any clarification is appreciated!
– Alex K
17 hours ago
1
See rules for adjective order.
– Robusto
17 hours ago
@AlexK In my answer I was only clarifying the interchangeable part. You should follow the rules for the order of adjectives. Putting white before tall can make sense, so it means that you should place commas between.
– Sweet_Cherry
17 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat
the doctor's secretary.
Whether the noun phrase in bold is punctuated correctly or not depends on the intended meaning. In "a rather tall, white counter", "counter" is modified by a coordination of modifiers giving the meaning a "counter that is both rather tall and white".
By contrast, without punctuation, "a rather tall white counter" has two layers of modification called stacking: "counter is modified by "white" to form the nominal "white counter", and this in turn is modified by "rather tall" to give the interpretation "counter that is rather tall by the usual size applicable to white ones".
answered 16 hours ago
BillJ
4,0441913
add a comment |
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat
the doctor's secretary.
Whether the noun phrase in bold is punctuated correctly or not depends on the intended meaning. In "a rather tall, white counter", "counter" is modified by a coordination of modifiers giving the meaning a "counter that is both rather tall and white".
By contrast, without punctuation, "a rather tall white counter" has two layers of modification called stacking: "counter is modified by "white" to form the nominal "white counter", and this in turn is modified by "rather tall" to give the interpretation "counter that is rather tall by the usual size applicable to white ones".
answered 16 hours ago
BillJ
4,0441913
add a comment |
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat
the doctor's secretary.
Whether the noun phrase in bold is punctuated correctly or not depends on the intended meaning. In "a rather tall, white counter", "counter" is modified by a coordination of modifiers giving the meaning a "counter that is both rather tall and white".
By contrast, without punctuation, "a rather tall white counter" has two layers of modification called stacking: "counter is modified by "white" to form the nominal "white counter", and this in turn is modified by "rather tall" to give the interpretation "counter that is rather tall by the usual size applicable to white ones".
answered 16 hours ago
BillJ
4,0441913
Beyond them was a rather tall white counter, and seated behind it sat
the doctor's secretary.
Whether the noun phrase in bold is punctuated correctly or not depends on the intended meaning. In "a rather tall, white counter", "counter" is modified by a coordination of modifiers giving the meaning a "counter that is both rather tall and white".
By contrast, without punctuation, "a rather tall white counter" has two layers of modification called stacking: "counter is modified by "white" to form the nominal "white counter", and this in turn is modified by "rather tall" to give the interpretation "counter that is rather tall by the usual size applicable to white ones".
answered 16 hours ago
BillJ
4,0441913
answered 16 hours ago
BillJ
4,0441913
answered 16 hours ago
BillJ
4,0441913
answered 16 hours ago
BillJ
4,0441913
4,0441913
add a comment |
add a comment |
Yes.
You use a comma between two adjectives that can be interchangeable, meaning you can switch the order and it would still make sense.
For example, I will use your sentence.
Beyond them was a rather tall, white counter
You can switch them, and it would still make sense.
Beyond them was a rather white, tall counter
I will make another example, this time it cannot be interchangeable, so you wouldn't use a comma.
I bought a wardrobe of some cheap winter clothes
If you change the order, it wouldn't make sense:
I bought a wardrobe of some winter cheap clothes
You can read more about it here on grammar book. It not only explains this issue, but also using commas in general.
answered 17 hours ago
Sweet_Cherry
570216
Hi, Thanks for your reply. This is the dilemma I was struggling with. Placing "white" before "tall" sounds off to me. Perhaps it's just me, but placing tall before white sounds better (perhaps, even necessary?). In addition, "rather" is meant to apply to the height of the table, not to the colour of the table. When white is placed before tall, I interpret the sentence to mean that the colour of the counter was somewhat (i.e. rather) white? Any clarification is appreciated!
– Alex K
17 hours ago
1
See rules for adjective order.
– Robusto
17 hours ago
@AlexK In my answer I was only clarifying the interchangeable part. You should follow the rules for the order of adjectives. Putting white before tall can make sense, so it means that you should place commas between.
– Sweet_Cherry
17 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes.
You use a comma between two adjectives that can be interchangeable, meaning you can switch the order and it would still make sense.
For example, I will use your sentence.
Beyond them was a rather tall, white counter
You can switch them, and it would still make sense.
Beyond them was a rather white, tall counter
I will make another example, this time it cannot be interchangeable, so you wouldn't use a comma.
I bought a wardrobe of some cheap winter clothes
If you change the order, it wouldn't make sense:
I bought a wardrobe of some winter cheap clothes
You can read more about it here on grammar book. It not only explains this issue, but also using commas in general.
answered 17 hours ago
Sweet_Cherry
570216
Hi, Thanks for your reply. This is the dilemma I was struggling with. Placing "white" before "tall" sounds off to me. Perhaps it's just me, but placing tall before white sounds better (perhaps, even necessary?). In addition, "rather" is meant to apply to the height of the table, not to the colour of the table. When white is placed before tall, I interpret the sentence to mean that the colour of the counter was somewhat (i.e. rather) white? Any clarification is appreciated!
– Alex K
17 hours ago
1
See rules for adjective order.
– Robusto
17 hours ago
@AlexK In my answer I was only clarifying the interchangeable part. You should follow the rules for the order of adjectives. Putting white before tall can make sense, so it means that you should place commas between.
– Sweet_Cherry
17 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes.
You use a comma between two adjectives that can be interchangeable, meaning you can switch the order and it would still make sense.
For example, I will use your sentence.
Beyond them was a rather tall, white counter
You can switch them, and it would still make sense.
Beyond them was a rather white, tall counter
I will make another example, this time it cannot be interchangeable, so you wouldn't use a comma.
I bought a wardrobe of some cheap winter clothes
If you change the order, it wouldn't make sense:
I bought a wardrobe of some winter cheap clothes
You can read more about it here on grammar book. It not only explains this issue, but also using commas in general.
answered 17 hours ago
Sweet_Cherry
570216
Yes.
You use a comma between two adjectives that can be interchangeable, meaning you can switch the order and it would still make sense.
For example, I will use your sentence.
Beyond them was a rather tall, white counter
You can switch them, and it would still make sense.
Beyond them was a rather white, tall counter
I will make another example, this time it cannot be interchangeable, so you wouldn't use a comma.
I bought a wardrobe of some cheap winter clothes
If you change the order, it wouldn't make sense:
I bought a wardrobe of some winter cheap clothes
You can read more about it here on grammar book. It not only explains this issue, but also using commas in general.
answered 17 hours ago
Sweet_Cherry
570216
answered 17 hours ago
Sweet_Cherry
570216
answered 17 hours ago
Sweet_Cherry
570216
answered 17 hours ago
Sweet_Cherry
570216
570216
Hi, Thanks for your reply. This is the dilemma I was struggling with. Placing "white" before "tall" sounds off to me. Perhaps it's just me, but placing tall before white sounds better (perhaps, even necessary?). In addition, "rather" is meant to apply to the height of the table, not to the colour of the table. When white is placed before tall, I interpret the sentence to mean that the colour of the counter was somewhat (i.e. rather) white? Any clarification is appreciated!
– Alex K
17 hours ago
1
See rules for adjective order.
– Robusto
17 hours ago
@AlexK In my answer I was only clarifying the interchangeable part. You should follow the rules for the order of adjectives. Putting white before tall can make sense, so it means that you should place commas between.
– Sweet_Cherry
17 hours ago
add a comment |
Hi, Thanks for your reply. This is the dilemma I was struggling with. Placing "white" before "tall" sounds off to me. Perhaps it's just me, but placing tall before white sounds better (perhaps, even necessary?). In addition, "rather" is meant to apply to the height of the table, not to the colour of the table. When white is placed before tall, I interpret the sentence to mean that the colour of the counter was somewhat (i.e. rather) white? Any clarification is appreciated!
– Alex K
17 hours ago
1
See rules for adjective order.
– Robusto
17 hours ago
@AlexK In my answer I was only clarifying the interchangeable part. You should follow the rules for the order of adjectives. Putting white before tall can make sense, so it means that you should place commas between.
– Sweet_Cherry
17 hours ago
Hi, Thanks for your reply. This is the dilemma I was struggling with. Placing "white" before "tall" sounds off to me. Perhaps it's just me, but placing tall before white sounds better (perhaps, even necessary?). In addition, "rather" is meant to apply to the height of the table, not to the colour of the table. When white is placed before tall, I interpret the sentence to mean that the colour of the counter was somewhat (i.e. rather) white? Any clarification is appreciated!
– Alex K
17 hours ago
Hi, Thanks for your reply. This is the dilemma I was struggling with. Placing "white" before "tall" sounds off to me. Perhaps it's just me, but placing tall before white sounds better (perhaps, even necessary?). In addition, "rather" is meant to apply to the height of the table, not to the colour of the table. When white is placed before tall, I interpret the sentence to mean that the colour of the counter was somewhat (i.e. rather) white? Any clarification is appreciated!
– Alex K
17 hours ago
1
1
See rules for adjective order.
– Robusto
17 hours ago
See rules for adjective order.
– Robusto
17 hours ago
@AlexK In my answer I was only clarifying the interchangeable part. You should follow the rules for the order of adjectives. Putting white before tall can make sense, so it means that you should place commas between.
– Sweet_Cherry
17 hours ago
@AlexK In my answer I was only clarifying the interchangeable part. You should follow the rules for the order of adjectives. Putting white before tall can make sense, so it means that you should place commas between.
– Sweet_Cherry
17 hours ago
add a comment |
Alex K is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Alex K is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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