The phrase in question is: "…in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope"
One of my colleagues insists that there should be a comma after “enclosed”, relying on the rule that multiple consecutive adjectives each get a comma.
Well, yes, “enclosed” is an adjective, and it is followed by other adjectives, but I contend that it does not get a comma after it for the following reason:
The concept here is really “…in the enclosed {Thing}”. That {Thing} is a “self-addressed, stamped envelope”. Now, one wouldn’t write “…in the enclosed, thing”, would they? Just substitute “Thing” with “self-addressed, stamped envelope”. No comma after “enclosed”.
This may be somewhat of a sophisticated concept for my gramatically ham-fisted colleague to grasp, but I think it conveys a much more elegant meaning if done my way. Elegant, that is, until you realize that it’s just a damn envelope.
Also, I know I’m right because I’m a guy.