3 ms·

I'm not sure if you mean "big-ball" as a special object distinct from any "big ball." If not, I would still say "the big red ball, not the big green ball."

Izkata 5y ago
If we're already talking about a "big ball" and someone wanted clarification about "the red one or the blue one", it's been promoted to a special object and for that context "the red big ball" sounds more correct to me. To show the promotion of "big ball" in text, I'd type it like "the red big ball" or "the red big-ball" (though the latter still looks odd), even though the emphasis of the former might be slight enough not to be obvious when spoken.
- Twisol 5y ago
  As a very concrete example of this, in games like Diablo, you might have an item literally called "Big Ball" that can have a color attribute. You would (and I have) absolutely refer to a particular colored item as a "red Big Ball". This is the exception that proves the rule, though, as "big" is now in fact part of the ball's identity, rather than something merely describing the ball.
  - scubbo 5y ago
    > This is the exception that proves the rule, though, Seeing this phrase (or "Begs the question") used appropriately is always a pleasant surprise.
- pbhjpbhj 5y ago
  Um, no. We (British-English speakers) say "big _red_ ball" just adding emphasis to the vocalisation of "red". You hear an example in Boris Johnson PM talking about "new _blue_ passport", people getting a "new passport" is a thing, but if you say a 'blue "new passport"' then people will find that a foreign turn off phrase and assume you're a non-native speaker or you're having a stroke (ie a medical problem with your brain). I mean, yeah, if it's a noun phrase it might work, but even if we're taking about a red zorb, it's not going to be "red big ball" unless Big Ball is a trade mark or brand name or whatever.
- simondw 5y ago
  Everything you say makes logical sense, but I wonder if you're overthinking this? I can't imagine any editor would let you get away with something like "the red big-ball."

Izkata 5y ago

If we're already talking about a "big ball" and someone wanted clarification about "the red one or the blue one", it's been promoted to a special object and for that context "the red big ball" sounds more correct to me. To show the promotion of "big ball" in text, I'd type it like "the red big ball" or "the red big-ball" (though the latter still looks odd), even though the emphasis of the former might be slight enough not to be obvious when spoken.

Twisol 5y ago
As a very concrete example of this, in games like Diablo, you might have an item literally called "Big Ball" that can have a color attribute. You would (and I have) absolutely refer to a particular colored item as a "red Big Ball". This is the exception that proves the rule, though, as "big" is now in fact part of the ball's identity, rather than something merely describing the ball.
- scubbo 5y ago
  > This is the exception that proves the rule, though, Seeing this phrase (or "Begs the question") used appropriately is always a pleasant surprise.
pbhjpbhj 5y ago
Um, no. We (British-English speakers) say "big _red_ ball" just adding emphasis to the vocalisation of "red". You hear an example in Boris Johnson PM talking about "new _blue_ passport", people getting a "new passport" is a thing, but if you say a 'blue "new passport"' then people will find that a foreign turn off phrase and assume you're a non-native speaker or you're having a stroke (ie a medical problem with your brain). I mean, yeah, if it's a noun phrase it might work, but even if we're taking about a red zorb, it's not going to be "red big ball" unless Big Ball is a trade mark or brand name or whatever.
simondw 5y ago
Everything you say makes logical sense, but I wonder if you're overthinking this? I can't imagine any editor would let you get away with something like "the red big-ball."