This is the list I was telling some of you about. It’s not in the format I wanted but here it is. (This list is from “Adjective Placement” by Kenneth Beare at http://esl.about.com/od/grammarstructures/a/adjective_order.htm)

Aside from coordinate adjectives, there is actually an acceptable order of adjectives in a series of adjectives. The list starts with the type of adjective that would come first in a list, all the way down to seventh place. All this to explain why today’s answer was “an angry old man” (opinion-age) and not “an old angry man” (age-opinion). Now, the list:

Note: We usually use no more than three adjectives preceding a noun.

1. Opinion

Example: an interesting book, a boring lecture

2. Dimension

Example: a big apple, a thin wallet

3. Age

Example: a new car, a modern building, an ancient ruin

4. Shape

Example: a square box, an oval mask, a round ball

5. Color

Example: a pink hat, a blue book, a black coat

6. Origin

Example: some Italian shoes, a Canadian town, an American car

7. Material

Example: a wooden box, a woolen sweater, a plastic toy

Here are some examples of nouns modified with three adjectives in the correct order based on the list above. Notice that the adjectives are not separated by commas.

· A wonderful old Italian clock. (opinion – age – origin)

· A big square blue box. (dimension – shape – color)

· A disgusting pink plastic ornament. (opinion – color – material)

· Some slim new French trousers. (dimension – age – origin)

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor

Symitar, A Jack Henry Company

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

Today’s quiz answers:

ABC – 4

BCA – 2

CCB – 5

BCC – 4

CCA – 81

CAA (Not on the option list, but I love you free thinkers.) – 1

1. Uncle Bluto is really _________________ man.

a. an old angry

b. a angry, old

c. an angry old

2. They grew up on ___________________ houseboat in Gig Harbor

a. a comfortable, little

b. a little, comfortable

c. a comfortable little

3. Tracy wanted to take a course with __________________ professor.

a. That interesting new Danish anthropology

b. That Danish interesting, new anthropology

c. That interesting, new, Danish, anthropology

The following information on using commas with coordinate adjectives (equal and reversible adjectives) is from The Copyeditor’s Handbook, by Amy Einsohn:

In principle, coordinate adjectives are those that equally and independently modify a noun, and their coordinate status is marked by the presence of either the word and or a comma in between them; for example:

a dull and error-filled book or a dull, error-filled book

a cool and humid climate or a cool, humid climate

Conversely, noncoordinate adjectives do not equally and independently modify a noun; instead, the first adjective modifies the unit comprising the second adjective (or even a third adjective) plus the noun:

a thick green book

a battered old canvas fishing hat

There are two “tests” for determining whether a pair of adjectives is coordinate. A pair of adjectives is coordinate if (1) one can place and between the adjectives or (2) one can reverse the order of the adjectives and still have a sensible phrase. The phrase “a long, restful vacation” passes both tests (a long and restful vacation; a restful, long vacation), and therefore the adjectives are coordinate. But “a long summer vacation” fails both tests (a long and summer vacation; a summer long vacation), and therefore the adjectives are not coordinate.

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor

Symitar, A Jack Henry Company

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

Select the word or phrase that correctly completes the sentence, and then select the corresponding voting button (if voting buttons are available to you). The correct answers and some information on coordinate adjectives will be published after 12:00 noon.

1. Uncle Bluto is really _________________ man.

a. an old angry

b. a angry, old

c. an angry old

2. They grew up on ___________________ houseboat in Gig Harbor

a. a comfortable, little

b. a little, comfortable

c. a comfortable little

3. Tracy wanted to take a course with __________________ professor.

a. that interesting new Danish anthropology

b. that Danish interesting, new anthropology

c. that interesting, new, Danish, anthropology

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor

Symitar, A Jack Henry Company

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

Today is the last day we visit “the final frontier” to talk about celestial adjectives.

Note: I have made slight edits to shorten the content. The original can be found at DailyWritingTips.com in the article "7 Heavenly Bodies as Sources of Adjectives" by Mark Nichol.

Saturn
The Roman god said to have been the father of Jupiter was associated with traits opposite to those of the scion who usurped his rule; a saturnine person is gloomy, sardonic, and surly, as opposed to the jovial type, though the adjective also has the neutral sense of “sluggish” and “serious.” This temperament was said in the Middle Ages to be the influence of the planet farthest from the Sun (or the one believed at the time to be the most remote) and the slowest.

But the god was also identified with justice and strength, as well as with agriculture, and later was celebrated in the weeklong winter-solstice feast known as the Saturnalia, when the rules of moral conduct and social status were suspended. That name, with the initial letter lowercased, now refers to any unrestrained merrymaking.

Venus
A supposed inhabitant of Venus is a Venusian, of course, but another term influenced by the name of the Roman goddess of love and beauty may surprise you. Because of Venus’s association with sex as well as affection and attractiveness, her name was the inspiration for venereal, which means “relating to sexual pleasure or indulgence” but is almost exclusively employed to refer to sexually transmitted infections or diseases. [KC – This use of “venereal” is considered antiquated and politically incorrect—safest just to stay away from it in all senses of the word.]

However, another variation has a more positive association: To venerate is to admire, honor, or respect (the noun form is veneration), and venerable refers to someone or something considered deserving of one of those types of regard. It is also synonymous with sacred and can apply to a person, place, or thing that through age and/or accomplishments earns esteem.

And with a little help from Lisa Reyes and Merriam-Webster (http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com):

Pluto

plu·to·ni·an
1 sometimes capitalized a : of or relating to the lower world : INFERNAL b : resembling the lower world : grim and gloomy : harsh and unpleasing <a plutonian darkness> <such plutonian landscapes>

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619-542-6773 | Extension: 766773

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
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Today we continue with adjectives based on celestial bodies.

Note: I have made slight edits to shorten the content. The original can be found at DailyWritingTips.com in the article "7 Heavenly Bodies as Sources of Adjectives" by Mark Nichol.

Mars
Because of its belligerent-looking red glow, Mars was associated in ancient times with conflict, and the Romans named it after their god of war. The adjective martial (“martial law,” “martial arts,” court-martial) refers to war and fighting. [KC – Not to be confused with
marital, a completely different type of war and fighting.]

Mercury
Someone with an unpredictable or volatile personality is said to be mercurial, thanks to an association with Mercury, the swift messenger of the Latin gods. (The liquid element mercury, also known as quicksilver, was perhaps given that name because of its rapidly free-flowing quality.) But the adjective is also associated with eloquence and ingenuity, as well as larcenous behavior. Why? The god Mercury was considered the protector of thieves, as well as merchants and travelers, who would appeal to the deity to favor them with speed. The planet Mercury was so named because of its fast orbital velocity.

Moon
Like Terra, Luna, the Roman name for the Moon, seems to appear only in science fiction these days. But lunatic, meaning “foolish” or “insane,” is common, albeit mostly in the nonclinical sense. (Lunacy, another word for insanity, and the adjectival form derive from the onetime notion that phases of the Moon affect mental instability.) Lunar, however, is the adjectival form for scientific references to Earth’s natural satellite.

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor

Symitar, A Jack Henry Company

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

In honor of the super moon* that displayed on Cinco de Mayo, today we delve into a series of adjectives based on seven heavenly bodies. This information is from an article by Mark Nichol (“7 Heavenly Bodies as Sources of Adjectives”) from http://www.dailywritingtips.com.

Earth
Though in modern usage our planet’s Latin name, Terra, appears only in science fiction, the adjective terrestrial is often employed to refer to phenomena associated with Earth or with land as opposed to water. It is also the root of extraterrestrial, the term for any (so far conjectural) life-form that does not originate on Earth, or for anything existing or occurring beyond the planet.

Terrestrial also refers to the inner planets of the solar system as a category. (See the next entry for the classification for the outer planets.) It can also mean “mundane,” as does terrene, which has the additional sense of “earthly.” (Terrene is also a noun referring to the planet or its terrain — and that word, like terrarium, also stems from the Latin term terrenum.)

Jupiter
Jovial means “jolly, convivial” — not traits associated with a god normally generally depicted with a stern visage. However, this is the word medieval astrologers used to describe those characteristics, which they ascribed to the influence on [sic] the planet on human behavior. The adjectival form for referring to the god or to the category of gas giants typified by the planet Jupiter is Jovian; this is also the term for referring to the planet’s natural satellites in fact and fiction and to fictional inhabitants.

*A super moon is a full moon that is as close to earth as it gets in a year, and therefore is the biggest and brightest moon…that is, if the May gray sky is not obscuring your view.

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor

Symitar, A Jack Henry Company

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

Fill in the blank with either affect or effect. Select the answer that matches your choices by using the voting buttons (above). The correct answers will be revealed around noon today.

Note: I keep forgetting to mention, it is fine to refer to other resources to answer the quizzes. The idea is to learn the information or where to find the information when you need it.

1. Cartoons have a strong _______________ on children.

2. I see that you’re trying to _______________ apathy, but I know that you really do care.

3. The CEO’s new rules ____________ed the entire company.

4. What kind of _______________ does eating chocolate have on you?

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor

Symitar, A Jack Henry Company

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
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Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

The differences between affect and effect can be among the tougher things to remember in English. They sound alike, they can both be used as nouns, they can both be used as verbs, and there are exceptions to the “rules.” There are many articles on the differences, none of them short, so I am picking the explanation from Mignon Fogarty (aka Grammar Girl) and the http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ website.
What Is the Difference Between Affect and Effect?
Before we get to the memory trick, I want to explain the difference between the two words.
It’s actually pretty straightforward. The majority of the time you use affect with an a as a verb and effect with an e as a noun.
When Should You Use Affect?
Affect with an a means "to influence," as in, "The arrows affected Ardvark," or "The rain affected Amy’s hairdo." Affect can also mean, roughly, "to act in a way that you don’t feel," as in, "She affected an air of superiority."
When Should You Use Effect?
Effect with an e has a lot of subtle meanings as a noun, but to me the meaning "a result" seems to be at the core of all the definitions. For example, you can say, "The effect was eye-popping," or "The sound effects were amazing," or "The rain had no effect on Amy’s hairdo."
Common Uses of Affect and Effect
So most of the time affect with an a is a verb and effect with an e is a noun. There are rare instances where the roles are switched, and I’ll get to those later, but for now let’s focus on the common meanings. This is "Quick and Dirty" grammar, and my impression from your questions is that most people have trouble remembering the basic rules of when to use these words, so if you stick with those, you’ll be right 95% of the time.
So, most of the time, affect with an a is a verb and effect with an e is a noun; and now we can get to the mnemonics. First, the mnemonic involves a very easy noun to help you remember: aardvark. Yes, if you can remember aardvark — a very easy noun — you’ll always remember that affect with an a is a verb and effect with an e is a noun. Why? Because the first letters of "a very easy noun" are the same first letters as "affect verb effect noun!" That’s a very easy noun. Affect (with an a) verb effect (with an e) noun.
"But why Aardvark?" you ask. Because there’s also an example to help you remember. It’s "The arrows affected Aardvark. The effect was eye-popping." It should be easy to remember that affect with an a goes with the a-words, arrow and aardvark, and that effect with an e goes with the e-word, eye-popping. If you can visualize the sentences, "The arrows affected the aardvark. The effect was eye-popping," it’s pretty easy to see that affect with an a is a verb and effect with an e is a noun.
The illustration of the example is from my new book.

It’s Aardvark being affected by arrows, and I think looking at it will help you remember the example sentences; and it’s cute. You can print it out and hang it by your desk.
So avery easy noun will help you remember that affect with an a is a verb and effect with an e is a noun, and the example will help you see how to use both words in a sentence.
Rare Uses of Affect and Effect
So what about those rare meanings that don’t follow the rules I just gave you? Well, affect can be used as a noun when you’re talking about psychology–it means the mood that someone appears to have. For example, "She displayed a happy affect." Psychologists find it useful because they know that you can never really understand what someone else is feeling. You can only know how they appear to be feeling.
And, effect can be used as a verb that essentially means "to bring about," or "to accomplish." For example, you could say, "Aardvark hoped to effect change within the burrow."

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor
Symitar, A Jack Henry Company
8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
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Today we have the remainder of the ten “tacky terms” from DailyWritingTips. While the history of these words is interesting, they seem less “tacky” and more “cheap” in meaning.

Purple
There’s an interesting line of connotation for this word: Because of the difficulty of obtaining purple dye from a certain shellfish in ancient times, it was reserved for royalty, and later was long limited to use by aristocratic classes. Thus, it came to be associated with those with very high social standing — and, naturally, their attendant sophistication. But the resulting association of the color with ostentatiousness led to a connotation of overbearing effort, especially in writing — hence, “purple prose.”

Sleazy
Two early meanings of this word are “hairy or fuzzy” and “flimsy,” but only the latter sense has survived, while still other connotations have come to dominate. The primary meanings now are “sexually provocative” or “of low quality,” the latter referring to both character and construction.

Tacky
This nineteenth-century slang term for a low-class person was extended to describe anything that is ill-bred, shabby, in poor taste, or cheaply constructed. It most often refers to a cheap taste in fashion or decor.

Tawdry
As is the case with purple, this term has made a downwardly mobile trajectory. According to tradition, Audrey, queen of a kingdom in what is now England, found religion late in life when she surmised that her vanity led to a deadly condition. The Catholic Church canonized her, and at an annual fair commemorating Saint Audry, cheap lace necklaces were sold in her honor. These came to be known as “’t Audrey’s lace,” later altered to “tawdry lace.” Now, tawdry is a synonym for cheap or showy. It has, however, also acquired a sense of “base, low, mean,” as in the cliché “a tawdry affair.”

Two-Bit
This adjective meaning “cheap” comes from the slang term for a twenty-five-cent piece. The reference originates with the real, a Spanish coin that could be divided into eight pieces (hence “pieces of eight” in pirate lore). Each bit was worth one-eighth of the coin’s value; transferred to American currency, two bits is worth a quarter. In either currency, two bits ain’t worth much.

Kara Church | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar, A Jack Henry Company
8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619-542-6773 | Extension: 766773

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.