Adjective Order

The Correct Sequence of Multiple Adjectives

Sections
Introduction

1. Definition & Core Meaning

English adjectives follow this order:

OSASCOMP:

  1. Opinion: beautiful, ugly, nice
  2. Size: big, small, tiny
  3. Age: old, new, young
  4. Shape: round, square, flat
  5. Color: red, blue, green
  6. Origin: American, Chinese, Italian
  7. Material: wooden, metal, plastic
  8. Purpose: sleeping (bag), running (shoes)

What is it?
The Correct Sequence of Multiple Adjectives

2. Use Cases

  1. Describing People: "A tall, young, athletic man."
  2. Describing Objects: "A shiny, new, Japanese car."
  3. Complex Descriptions: "An amazing, old, wooden sculpture."

3. When to Use It (Time Expressions/Signals)

  • Descriptive Writing: Use when you need to provide multiple details about a single noun.
  • Visual Clarity: Helps the listener build a specific mental image in the correct logical order.

[!NOTE]
Review the examples and rules closely to understand the context.

4. How to Use It (Rules)

  • Opinion adjectives come first
  • Purpose adjectives come last
  • Usually no more than 3 adjectives
  • Use commas between same-type adjectives