No comma between cumulative adjectives

Two or more adjectives that do not modify the noun separately are cumulative.

Three large steel panels protected the undercarriage.

Beginning with the adjective closest to the noun shapes, these modifiers lean on one another, piggyback style, with each modifying a larger word group: Steel modifies panels, large modifies steel panels, and three modifies large steel panels.

Cumulative adjectives cannot be joined with and (not three and large and steel panels). Though commas are required between coordinate adjectives (those that can be joined with and), they do not belong between cumulative adjectives.

Heading: Cumulative adjectives (no commas). Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Ira ordered a rich, chocolate, layer cake. Revised sentence: Ira ordered a rich chocolate layer cake.

Heading: Cumulative adjectives (no commas). Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: In the corner of the closet we found an old, maroon hatbox from Sears. Revised sentence: In the corner of the closet we found an old maroon hatbox from Sears.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: A backyard, compost system can be designed cheaply from an old garbage can. Revised sentence: A backyard compost system can be designed cheaply from an old garbage can.

Exercises:

Misuses of the comma 1

Misuses of the comma 2

Related topic:

Comma between coordinate adjectives