When to Use Commas

You're supposed to use commas for coordinate adjectives. Here's that visual representation again:

Coordinate Adjectives
[modifier], [modifier] [noun]

Coordinate adjectives are called coordinate between you could put and (a coordinating conjunction) between them and it would still make sense. You could also switch the order of coordinate adjectives, and it would still make sense.

Here are some examples:

• fluffy, red pajamas
• red, fluffy pajamas
• fluffy and red pajamas


• dark, stormy night
• stormy, dark night
• dark and stormy night


• boring, cliché writing
• cliché, boring writing
• boring and cliché writing

Compare coordinate adjectives with stacked adjectives, which are not supposed to have any punctuation.

Stacked Adjectives
[modifier [modifier [noun]]]

Stacked adjectives modify a noun in a certain order.

Here are some examples:

• blaring fire alarm
• green praying mantis
• beautiful raised ceilings

It's a fire alarm that's blaring, a praying mantis that's green, and raised ceilings that are beautiful. These adjectives don't modify the noun at the same time; the adjective closest to the noun modifies the noun first.