Native English speakers… I hear the order of adjectives is important, and getting this wrong is jarring to read.

I’m making a pitch to upper management about building a “modular and versatile thingamawidget”. Or is it “versatile and modular thingamawidget”?

If it doesn’t matter, I think I’ll go for the latter, as it abbreviates to something easily pronouncable without sounding like a paramilitary group or a ride sharing business.

  • adarza@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    2 months ago

    adjective order (first to last):

    • Quantity
    • Opinion
    • Size
    • Age
    • Shape
    • Color
    • Origin/Material
    • Qualifier

    ‘versatile’ is an opinion. it would go before ‘modular’

    • Prison Mike@links.hackliberty.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      2 months ago

      Why do you consider “versatile” an opinion? It’s a genuine question, I’m a native speaker and wouldn’t have thought that, but I’m also unfamiliar with how this is typically taught.

    • neidu2@feddit.nlOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 months ago

      Heh, that made me realize that the trademark of the system we’re currently using, which is abbreviated into four letters, should have the first three in the opposite order.

      • WoahWoah@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        2 months ago

        It’s not uncommon to change the order for branding. It makes people notice it more – even though they’re noticing it because it “feels” incorrect, it tends to force a reader’s attention. Alternatively, it might be a non-english company.

        • neidu2@feddit.nlOP
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          7
          ·
          edit-2
          2 months ago

          Neither. By “we” I mean my colleagues and I at work. It’s a proprietary thing we use. I cannot share the name as it’s too easily googleable and doxxable, as it’s a highly niche system.