Adjective order in English can be be quite complicated. If you are using more than one adjective before a noun, there is often a specific order in which they must be placed.
For example:
A black leather jacket (correct)
A leather black jacket (incorrect)
Here is a short acronym to help you remember: OSASCOMP. Below you will find an explanation for each letter and some example sentences.
Rule 1: OSASCOMP – O for opinion
Adjectives that talk about opinions, judgements or attitudes usually come first.
| Opinions, judgements or attitudes | Noun | |
| a | lovely | jacket. |
| a | perfect | plate. |
| an | expensive | bike. |
Rule 2: OSASCOMP – S for size
Adjectives relating to size, length and height come next. For example:
| Judgements, opinions or attitudes | Size, length, height | Noun | |
| a | lovely | large | jacket. |
| a | perfect | big | plate. |
| an | expensive | – | bike. |
Rule 3: OSASCOMP – A for age
Next are any adjectives relating to age
| Judgements, opinions or attitudes | Size, length, height | Age | Noun | |
| a | lovely | large | new | jacket. |
| a | perfect | big | old | plate. |
| an | expensive | – | modern | bike. |
Rule #4: OSASCOMP – S for shape
| Judgements, opinions or attitudes | Size, length, height | Age | Shape | Noun | |
| a | lovely | large | new | – | jacket. |
| a | perfect | big | old | round | plate. |
| an | expensive | – | modern | – | bike. |
Rule #5: OSASCOMP – C for colour
Next are the adjectives that talk about colour.
| Judgements, opinions or attitudes | Size, length, height | Age | Shape | Colour | Noun | |
| a | lovely | large | new | – | black | jacket. |
| a | perfect | big | old | round | white | plate. |
| an | expensive | – | modern | – | red | bike. |
Rule #6: OSASCOMP – O for origin
This refers to adjectives that say where the noun is from.
| Judgements, opinions or attitudes | Size, length, height | Age | Shape | Colour | Origin | Noun | |
| a | lovely | large | new | – | black | – | jacket. |
| a | perfect | big | old | round | white | Chinese | plate. |
| an | expensive | – | modern | – | red | Italian | bike. |
Rule #7: OSASCOMP – M for material
This refers to what the noun is made of.
| Judgements, opinions or attitudes | Size, length, height | Age | Shape | Colour | Origin | Material | Noun | |
| a | lovely | large | new | – | black | – | leather | jacket. |
| a | perfect | big | old | round | white | Chinese | porcelain | plate. |
| an | expensive | – | modern | – | red | Italian | – | bike. |
Rule #8: OSASCOMP – P for purpose
This refers to what the noun is used for (e.g. wedding ring). They are often nouns used as adjectives.
| Judgements, opinions or attitudes | Size, length, height | Age | Shape | Colour | Origin | Material | Purpose | Noun | |
| a | lovely | large | new | – | black | – | leather | – | jacket. |
| a | perfect | big | old | round | white | Chinese | porcelain | dinner | plate. |
| an | expensive | – | modern | – | red | Italian | – | sports | bike. |
Important notes:
1. The adjectives used in some of the tables above are examples only. It is uncommon in English to use more than three adjectives in the same sentence to describe a noun.
2. Some adjectives can be found in different positions, but if you follow the OSASCOMP rule for adjective order in English, you won’t be wrong!