Comma in literature quote question

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Turbo_King - 28 Jan 2005 15:22 GMT

Hi,

I was attempting to break each word in the quote "Great literature is
simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree."
into noun/verb etc and have a question.

Is the word utmost in "to the utmost possible degree" an adjective
describing the noun degree. If so then because possible is an
adjective also am I correct in thinking there should be a comma
between the words utmost and possible?

Thanks

Gareth

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CyberCypher - 28 Jan 2005 16:03 GMT

Turbo_King wrote on 28 Jan 2005:

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> adjective also am I correct in thinking there should be a comma
> between the words utmost and possible?

Seems to me that "utmost possible degree" is a redunancy, as "utmost
degree possible" would be: "to the utmost" seems sufficient in both
cases. "To the highest possible degree" or "to the highest degree
possible", however, look possible.

To answer your question, no, no comma is needed or even optional, only
a rewrite. Sorry, Ez, your reputation precedes you, follows you, and
haunts you, but you weren't the greatest American poet.

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Owain - 28 Jan 2005 20:19 GMT

| Is the word utmost in "to the utmost possible degree" an
| adjective describing the noun degree. If so then because
| possible is an adjective also am I correct in thinking there
| should be a comma between the words utmost and possible?

No, because "the utmost" qualifies "possible" so is not separated from it,
and "the utmost possible" forms one adjective for "degree". It's a bit like
qualifying an adjective with most, very, etc.

Owain

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / January 2005

Comma in literature quote question