I am having difficulty with this, or maybe my brain has just shutdown. Can you follow a compound adjective with another adjective and then the noun? Or does it always have to be adjective + compound adjective + noun (i.e. the compound adjective directly before the noun). I did search the forum and saw a similar discussion regarding adj + adj + noun, but not compound adj + adj + noun, which is why I am asking the question.
Consider the following sentences:
The band have achieved great success with their self-penned, positive lyrics.
Versus:
The band have achieved great success with their positive, self-penned lyrics.
Are they both correct (including the use of commas)?
I searched the forum and saw a great tip: if the adjectives can be switched around or if you can place an "and" between them (and they still make sense), then you need a comma. However, I don't know if they can be switched around, as I'm uncertain as to whether it makes sense with "self-penned" before "positive lyrics".
The reason I got confused was because I read something in a dictionary that said the word "feel-good" has to be placed directly before a noun e.g. "positive feel-good music" and not "feel-good, positive music". Wondered if this applies to compound adjectives like "self-penned".
Thanks.
Best Answer
From what I know, you treat a compound adjective the same as a normal adjective; So, yes, both of your sentences would be correct, commas and all.
My opinion, though, is that the second sentence sounds less awkward than the first.