Using commas with adjectives

Most writers seem to think that commas are always used to separate all elements in a list. If you're listing words that happen to be nouns, or noun (or prepositional)  phrases, then you'd be correct to use the comma separator between them.

I planted radishes, beets, cabbages and leeks.
(This lists four nouns, and note that I didn't use an Oxford comma).

Happiness might be found over the rainbow, behind the kitchen door or under the carpet.
(This is a list of three prepositional phrases).

Don't forget to buy green apples, red plums and a blue and white tablecloth. 
(And this is a list of three noun phrases).

If, however, you are using two or more adjectives to modify a noun or pronoun, you might--or might not-- require a comma to separate them. The rule has it that a comma is necessary where the word and would be appropriate, and when the modifiers are each modifying the same word to the same degree.

I know that sounds a bit tricky, so let me explain through examples.

My hero is tall, dark and slightly disfigured.  
(He is tall and dark and slightly disfigured. None of these modifiers is any more important than the others.)

But my heroine is perfectly proportioned, good-natured and rich.  
(Again, all three adjectives modify the word heroine in equal measure).

But sometimes two or more adjectives do not require a comma to separate them. Each case is slightly different, so you have to pay attention.

The endangered burrowing owl is making a comeback in some areas.
(No comma is needed between the word endangered and the word burrowing because these adjectives modify the word owl together. You wouldn't write, The endangered and burrowing owl...).

The quaint old village of Windermere bristles with tourists in the summer.
(Again, you wouldn't write, The quaint and old village...).

I can make the same case for using two or more adverbs to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

And I'll do this in my next post.

Commas for Lists

I didn't know until today that commas are among the oldest of our modern punctuation marks, having been "invented" in stages by the Italians in the 15th and 16th centuries. According to punctuation guru Lynne Truss, commas serve two main functions: to indicate the grammar of a sentence and to emphasize elements such as "rhythm, direction, pitch, tone and flow."

Probably the first thing you learned about commas was that they're required to separate elements in a list. It's quite a simple rule, and generally doesn't lead to any discussion or disagreement, except in the case of the Oxford comma, which I defined in my last post. This rule is an example of a comma illuminating the grammar of a sentence.

Sometimes a list can be quite complex, however. Some sentences are made up of lists of phrases that contain other commas. This is where some writers might begin to worry about what they're doing.

Take a look at this example.

Spring is the busiest time for gardeners because they must plan their method of attack, prepare sites, fork compost, clear off mulch and other less valuable debris, divide perennials, prune trees, shrubs and vines, and sow seeds.

Note that I've used the Oxford comma here (the comma after the word vines) because I want to do all I can to aid my reader's comprehension.

In sentences like this one, a semi-colon could be employed to separate the various phrases from one another. But don't worry about that now. I'm getting ahead of myself. I won't be discussing semi-colons for weeks yet.

When using a comma to separate the items in a list, the rule is that the comma should be able to replace the word and or or.

In the gardening example above, the list-separating commas could all be replaced with the word and.
Except for the Oxford comma, of course. It's the exception to the rule.

Next time, I'll talk about using commas as list-separators when the list is made up of adjectives. I hope it will be an informative, useful and interesting post. (For some reason I didn't feel like using the Oxford comma here. Isn't English a wonderful language?)

The Oxford Comma

I've neglected my blog because I've been finishing a sequel to my novel, Cult of the Black Virgin. This was my first novel, and it just got a four-star review, posted on Goodreads, so I'm encouraged. Publishers and readers seem to like sequels, and I'll be writing two. The first, Revenge of the Black Virgin, should be finished in a few weeks.

When I started this blog I said I was frustrated because I wasn't permitted to ue semi-colons and colons in my work. Apparently, readers of romance don't like sophisticated sentence structure, so I have to keep it simple. Commas are okay, though. I mean, really, commas are absolutely necessary in written English.

So, the next dozen or so postings are going to discuss commas.

First off, I'll introduce the Oxford comma (also known as the Harvard comma).

The Oxford comma is a formal name for the series or serial comma used before a co-ordinating conjunction (usually and, or, and nor) in a list of three or more things.

For example: I had to remove all the colons, semi-colons, and parentheses from my manuscript.

The Oxford, or serial, comma is the comma after the word semi-colons. It's often considered an optional comma, but care should be taken that it doesn't cause ambiguity. If you use it, the result may be ambiguous, and if you omit it you may cause confusion for another reason.

For example, note the difference in the two following sentences:

 My first novel is dedicated to my teachers, Margaret Atwood, and John Updike. 
 My first novel is dedicated to my teachers, Margaret Atwood and John Updike.

See what a difference a comma can make!
In the first, I dedicate my book to my teachers and two specific writers. In the second, I dedicate the book to the two writers who were my teachers.
So what am I trying to say? I'd better be clear about it or else someone's going to have hurt feelings.

The Oxford comma is probably more commonly used  in North America than it is in Britain these days. It's endorsed by the Chicago Manual of Style in the U.S. and both the Oxford University Press (hence the name) and Fowler's in the U.K.

So whether you opt to use it regularly or not, keep two things in mind. First, be consistent. If you use it once, you'll need to use it throughout your written piece. And secondly, make sure your comma doesn't alter your meaning or lead to ambiguity.

More about commas and ambiguity next time.