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The last comma in a list of adjectives.

11 replies

SixImpossible · 12/10/2014 07:54

I just typed something along the lines of:

"She is the most strait-laced, conventional, person I know."

Should it have been:

"She is the most strait-laced, conventional person I know."?

What if the list of adjectives is longer? I know that when you have a list ending with "and (last item)", you put a comma after each item except the penultimate item. Unless the list is very long or complex, in which case a comma before the "and (last item)" is acceptable. Is it the same for adjective lists?

OP posts:
beatofthedrum · 12/10/2014 07:56

No comma after the last adjective.

margaritasbythesea · 12/10/2014 07:58

Both are correct. It is a matter of personal style.

MrsQueen · 12/10/2014 08:20

No comma after conventional, there's no need for it as the list of adjectives has ended.

Gavel.

MrsHathaway · 12/10/2014 08:34

Comma after conventional is incorrect: in lists such as this the comma does the work of "and":

She is the most strait-laced and conventional person I know.

On the other hand, not all listed adjectives need a comma. I can't remember the term off the top of my head but it's to do with whether it describes or defines.

She was the most patronising and strait-laced and conventional heavily tattooed bisexual person I had ever met.

Use commas where and makes sense, and omit them otherwise.

My heavily tattooed, bisexual sister is, oddly enough, the most patronising, strait-laced and conventional of all my siblings.

CocktailQueen · 16/10/2014 21:56

No comma after the last adjective! It is wrong. Thanks, mrs Hathaway!

margaritasbythesea · 18/10/2014 08:21

Sorry it is wrong. Can't think why is said that.

SixImpossible · 21/10/2014 09:30

Thanks.

MrsH, I nearly inhaled my tea with laughter - I was describing my MIL! Grin

OP posts:
JessieMcJessie · 28/10/2014 17:22

Isn't it "straight-laced" as in all the laces of her corset are neatly aligned? Or is it strait because the laces pull her waist in to be very narrow?

SixImpossible · 28/10/2014 18:47

The second, I think.

But very willing to be corrected if I'm wrong!

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 28/10/2014 19:07

Strait as in narrow. Unlike a lady of the night, who would have hers more easily removable...

TheLovelyBoots · 21/11/2014 15:34

It's the Oxford Comma, and entirely at the discretion of the writer. I think there might be some caveat for a list of only two, though - seems too few.

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