Scott,

Consider the difference between these two:

   1. my troublesome, sweet sister
   2. my troublesome sweet tooth

In 1, both "troublesome" and "sweet" modify "sister." My sister is
troublesome but sweet.
In 2, "sweet" modifies "tooth," and "troublesome" modifies "sweet tooth." My
sweet tooth is troublesome.

When two or more adjectives (as in 1) modify a noun in parallel, they are
separated by commas. When one adjective modifies a phrase that contains an
adjective (as in 2), no comma is used.

Other examples:

   - a tall, dark, handsome stranger              [tall & dark & handsome]
   stranger
   - the best inexpensive Italian restaurant     the [best [inexpensive
   [Italian restaurant]]]

Dick

On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 12:38 PM, Scott Woods <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Dear List,
>
> The following phrases seem different to me:
>
> my beautiful gray Persian cat
>
> my large black leather coat
>
> my large gray Persian cat
>
> my beautiful black leather coat
>
> my old sad mangy cat
>
> my sweet old Irish grandmother
>
> my beautiful Irish linen tablecloth
>
> Some of these need commas between some of the adjectives, but others seem
> not to. Do you agree? How can this be explained?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Scott Woods
>
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