It would not necessarily be incorrect to include one or two commas in this list of adjectives (as either “long, straight, black hair” or “long, straight black hair”), but in this particular situation, it is largely a matter of personal stylistic preference. There are a huge number of alternative noun phrases for this sense, based on what terminology is used for the spacecraft in question (for example ‘shuttle pilot’). This is because both “long”, “straight”, and “black” apply to the noun “hair” equally, regardless of order. In more technical terms, commas are used between two or more “coordinate” adjectives that modify the same noun–“co-ordinate” in that they equally/independently modify the noun.
“A pilot” is a person qualified to assume such a role, or a person who frequently does so. All of those directly responsible (in the air) for keeping an aircraft flying as intended.
Personally I like the two comma version the best, of the ones given. If it would require an “and” to clarify the meaning, then a comma is needed. We cannot separate “mobile” from “phone” because the “mobile phone” forms a unit that “new” is modifying.
Aviator is now a more old fashioned term for pilot. An ‘aviator’ and a ‘pilot’ both refer to someone who can fly a plane. The -ment suffix is French, the -ion suffix is Latin, the -ing suffix is Germanic, and the -rix suffix is Celtic. See similar questions with these tags.
Note also that there is a tendency towards using one word for all genders. But for any given word, the only way to tell whether such a feminized version exists is to look it up in the dictionary. As with most things in English, no, there isn’t a general rule.
So “aviator” becomes “aviatrix” and “administrator” becomes “administratrix” Unfortunately English, especially Americanized English, has a tendency to outright steal words from other languages so spelling in English isn’t as easy as some more orderly languages. Guess I’m just ‘old fashioned’. That having been said, I find a certain charm to gender specific terms.
What’s the difference between ‘aviator’ and ‘pilot’?
When it needs to be unambiguous, this sense is usually called an ‘aircraft pilot’, though it may be further qualified by the type of aircraft the pilot normally flies (for example ‘fighter pilot’, ‘cargo pilot’, or ‘bomber pilot’). There are a few other suffixes that indicate female gender but the rules of spelling get even more obscure. Some words in -er have feminine counterparts in -ress.1 And most words that end with -man can be feminized by changing it to -woman. Is there a rule by which a native speaker would create feminine forms? Is there a general rule how to create feminine words? I would leave out the redundant “got” and just say “I have long, straight, black hair.”
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In other words, you can’t really go about creating feminine equivalents of random occupational words; you can merely use feminine equivalents, if they exist. Or is creating feminine forms simply not so important for native speakers? But I’ve never heard feminine forms for writer, programmer, designer etc. So, generally the ending -ess means the feminine form. For example feminine from waiter is pin up aviator waitress, from actor – actress, etc. However, the use of the word “got” implies a more colloquial rendition, so I would not be totally against the non-comma version.
I, personally, wouldn’t feminize any words that are gender neutral. The word actor is a gender neutral word that defines an occupation. So “lion” becomes “lioness” and “author” becomes “authoress” So “hunter” becomes “huntress” and “enchanter” becomes “enchantress”
Is there a general rule how to create feminine words?
Here’s my understanding of the suffix ess. People would normally attempt to use, if possible, a genderless word so as not to cause possible offence, It isn’t that important, and some words can’t be feminised, such as the ones mentioned in the question.
Adjective order and commas with “hair”
The aviator took the controls and piloted the balloon through the storm. Contemporary use of the -ette suffix for a female would be highly controversial if not borderline insulting. While all of these people were pilots (and some still are), many are also noted for contributions in areas such as aircraft design and manufacturing, navigation or popularization.
Are feminine nouns ending with -ess the only proper option for females?
There are a number of words you can choose here. First is “-trix” Best examples I can think of would be aviator/aviatrix and dominator/dominatrix. If they don’t, then they use the male noun for both genders.
- So, generally the ending -ess means the feminine form.
- No matter the order, it all adds up to “long straight black hair”
- ‘Aviator’ is anybody operating an aircraft.
- The situation with long straight black hair is a little more complicated.
In such a simple, unambiguous sentence it’s almost more readable without the commas though. With or without the commas, it’s unambiguous and completely understandable. So in this case, the adjectives are NOT coordinate adjectives, and a comma should NOT be used. As for whether to use commas, and if using them, where to place them– If you mess with that word order in the slightest you’ll sound like a maniac.
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- People would normally attempt to use, if possible, a genderless word so as not to cause possible offence,
- Unfortunately English, especially Americanized English, has a tendency to outright steal words from other languages so spelling in English isn’t as easy as some more orderly languages.
- When it needs to be unambiguous, this sense is usually called a ‘ship pilot’ or ‘maritime pilot’.
- Contemporary use of the -ette suffix for a female would be highly controversial if not borderline insulting.
Idiomatic means that there is no firm grammar rule and you have to learn each one on a case-by-case basis. Does it always work like in the emperor and empress case, where the gender is somehow clearly distinct (at least for me) ? Is it always wrong to use, like, hunter for a female hunter too or sorcerer for a female sorcerer too and so on? Find the answer to your question by asking.
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But these are not rules you can count on because “protector” can become “protectress” and don’t even bother looking for “actrix” in your spell check dictionary! If the word ends in “-ter”then drop the -ter in favor of “-tress” Words with distinctly feminine forms are usually old. These terms went obsolete so long ago that most people these days don’t even know that baker once had a feminine version.
Similarly, in the expression a Greek Orthodox priest, “Greek Orthodox” forms a unit that we cannot separate or change the order of; so no comma can be used between “Greek” and “Orthodox.” So here the adjectives are independently modifying the noun (that is to say, they are coordinate adjectives), which means that using a comma is correct. (2) Does the sentence still make sense if the order of the adjectives in question is switched? In American English today, I normally hear the term aviator used to describe either someone who made a significant contribution to the field of aviation, or a military pilot (particularly “Naval aviator” or “Marine aviator,” since members of the U.S. Air Force are “airmen” instead). When it needs to be unambiguous, this sense is usually called a ‘ship pilot’ or ‘maritime pilot’. In the past, the term ‘aviator’ could be applied to the pilot, the navigator, or the flight engineer.
What is the type of movement of hot-air balloons called in English?
The sentence would still make sense if we switched it to either The aviator took the controls and navigated the balloon through the storm. The aviator took the controls and flew the balloon through the storm.
Coordinating adjectives, which these are, should be separated by commas. No matter the order, it all adds up to “long straight black hair” “The hair is black and straight, but also long”? “The hair is long and straight, but also black”, The situation with long straight black hair is a little more complicated.
It is, however, rare to hear people in the third category referred to as “aviators.” They meet the dictionary definition, and Wikipedia includes them, but in a separate list at the bottom of the page because they get in on a technicality. In most modern usage, ‘aviator’ is not typically heard much outside of academic settings, and is generally considered borderline archaic ‘Aviator’ is anybody operating an aircraft. I agree that “aviator” is a bit more old-fashioned.