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Post by vrabinec on Aug 3, 2015 21:10:41 GMT -5
Papers rustled behind two massive, green marble support columns that divided the room.
Is there a comma after the green, if I consider green marble to be a type of marble?
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Post by Becca Mills on Aug 3, 2015 22:48:54 GMT -5
I think no comma, even if "green marble" is a known type of stone.
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Post by Daniel on Aug 4, 2015 8:01:11 GMT -5
I like how it reads as it stands.
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Post by Becca Mills on Aug 4, 2015 17:19:33 GMT -5
Oh, sorry, I misread your question -- thought you were asking about the existing comma. I wouldn't put any commas in that sentence, since I don't think the adjectives are clearly coordinate. There are a couple possible tests for coordinateness. 1) Could you put an "and" between the adjectives? Would you say, "Papers rustled behind two massive and green and marble support columns that divided the room"? I wouldn't. So, no commas. 2) Can you switch around the order of the adjectives without its sounding funny? Would you say, "Papers rustled behind two marble, green, massive support columns that divided the room"? I wouldn't. So, no commas. You could hyphenate "green-marble" to make it more clearly one term, but even then I don't think I'd comma. Would I climb a "massive and granite mountain"? I don't think so. I think I'd climb a "massive granite mountain," no "and" or comma needed. But it'd be good to get input from someone who is more comfortable with these rules than I am. I get confused on coordinate vs. cumulative adjectives myself. WH? WH?? Yoo-hoo!  |
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Post by lou on Aug 5, 2015 8:14:32 GMT -5
With punctuating cumulative adjectives, the two tests are: substitute "and" for commas, or switch around the adjectives' order, and see how that sounds. ...two massive and green marble support columns ....two green marble, massive support columns If those sound "off" to you, then no comma is required. It's too early for me to decide if anything sounds off to me yet. |
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Post by whdean on Aug 7, 2015 21:21:51 GMT -5
I'd leave out the comma altogether. As in most cases of ambiguity, some of the adjectives can be either cumulative or coordinate, but they can be read as cumulative because of "support," which must be cumulative.
As for "green marble" being a kind--assuming you mean actual green marble from Sweden--it wouldn't be hyphenated.
By the way, I'm writing to you from Framingham, MA. Heading to Boston tomorrow morning.
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