Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Adjectives: Equal (Coordinate) or Not?


And standing in the middle of the opening was a hulking, terrifying figure.
Deltora Quest: Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda, p. 113

Lief and Barda froze as the hollow, echoing voice rang out.
Deltora Quest: Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda, p. 113

Overjoyed, Lief saw that ideed the wound was repairing itself.  Already, it was just a raw, red scar.  And as he watched the scar itself began to fade, till it was nothing but a thin white line.
Deltora Quest: Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda, p. 125

. . . the last few golden drops dripped into it.
Deltora Quest: Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda, p. 126

How can I tell whether to add the comma?

  • Can you reverse the order of the adjectives -- and it still sounds right?
  • Can you replace the comma with "and" -- and it still sounds right?