Comma between two adjectives

Question

Hi all,I am confused with the usage of the comma between two adjectives ( risky, cutting-edge) in the following sentenc:"As a consequence, in Kirland's structure, risky, cutting-edge technology cannot be developed."I wonder why the author did not use "and" instead of that comma. (I often do it).Can you tell me if using the comma between two adjectives is a common rule?Or if it is not, when we can use commas in that way?Thanks,

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Can you tell me if using the comma between two adjectives is a common rule?[/nq]
Yes. But "common" not universal. When more than one adjective applies to the same noun, the series can be one of two types: parallel adjectives or superposed adjectives. If the adjectives are parallel, there is a comma after all but the last; if they are superposed, there are no commas.

Parallel adjectives are those which each apply to the noun independent of the others: a tall, thin, blond man is a man who is tall and thin and blond. The commas tell us that the adjectives apply independently. Most streams of adjectives are parallel: a big, fat, rich, old man; a tall, narrow, antique bookcase; &c &c.
But there is another sort of adjective series. In a phrase such as "his battered old canvas fishing hat", the reference is not to a hat that is old, battered, canvas, and fishing: the adjectives are superposed that is, each builds on the ones preceding it. As Wilson Follett put it in Modern American Usage (about "He was wearing his battered old canvas fishing hat"):The adjectives lie in different planes and bear unequal relations to one another and to their noun. One might truthfully say that each modifier belongs to everything that comes after it; that it is welded to what follows; that together they make a lengthening chain in which every link drags the following links. In reality the object and hence the noun is not "hat", but "canvas-fishing-hat". This single thought or object is described by the common adjective "old", to which is added the participial modifier "battered".

There is no license that permits a comma between a single adjective and its noun. Hence none should go between "old" and "canvas". Next, analysis tells us that each descriptive word in the chain is attached to the following in such a way as to be integral with it; hence no comma between "battered" and "old". There is in fact no place in this sentence for a legitimate comma.

Cordially,
Eric Walker, Owlcroft House
http://owlcroft.com/english/

Comma between two adjectives

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