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I thought I knew the answer, but it is a tricky question, at least in English. Firstly, there is the order of adjectives: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/gram

I thought I knew the answer, but it is a tricky question, at least in English. Firstly, there is the order of adjectives: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/adjectives-order https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/adj... Secondly, whether to separate them with a comma: https://getitwriteonline.com/commas-between-adjectives/ https://getitwriteonline.com/commas-between-adjectives/ These two principles together seem to suggest "The attack against Danish critical infrastructure" (you would not put an "and" between them, and place comes before type), but to me, "The attack against critical Danish infrastructure" feels slightly better. I'm not sure why, but it might have something to do with my feeling that when I hear about an attack on infrastructure, perhaps the question of how serious it is puts any other adjective in context. One could also say "The [May, 2023] attack on Denmark's critical infrastructure" or "The/An attack on critical infrastructure in Denmark."

ethbr1 3y ago
The attack against Danish critical infrastructure Feels maximally neutral. Critical infrastructure was attacked. That infrastructure was Danish. The attack against critical Danish infrastructure Conveys more of an emphasis that the infrastructure was critical to Denmark (with a very slight flavor that maybe it's not generally accepted critical infrastructure?). In practice, as a southeastern US English speaker (if that matters?), adjectives closer to the noun rank higher in emphasis. I'm sure there are exceptions (ugh, English), but increasing-emphasis ordering if it's a generic bag-of-adjectives.
- brookst 3y ago
  FWIW as a northwest USian, “Danish critical infrastructure” reads like the attack was against critical infrastructure of Danish origin, wherever it might be now. “Critical Danish infrastructure” tells me it is critical infrastructure perhaps made anywhere but deployed in Denmark. It is surprisingly ambiguous though.

ethbr1 3y ago

The attack against Danish critical infrastructure Feels maximally neutral. Critical infrastructure was attacked. That infrastructure was Danish. The attack against critical Danish infrastructure Conveys more of an emphasis that the infrastructure was critical to Denmark (with a very slight flavor that maybe it's not generally accepted critical infrastructure?). In practice, as a southeastern US English speaker (if that matters?), adjectives closer to the noun rank higher in emphasis. I'm sure there are exceptions (ugh, English), but increasing-emphasis ordering if it's a generic bag-of-adjectives.

brookst 3y ago
FWIW as a northwest USian, “Danish critical infrastructure” reads like the attack was against critical infrastructure of Danish origin, wherever it might be now. “Critical Danish infrastructure” tells me it is critical infrastructure perhaps made anywhere but deployed in Denmark. It is surprisingly ambiguous though.