Question

In the following sentence would I use a colon, semi-colon, comma, or nothing after the word or? (the area in question is marked with *)

Is it the bones and skin that keep us standing upright*:;,?* or is it something bigger than that, something other than the scientific definition of a human?

Answer 1

What you have here is a compound sentence -- that is, two sentences (or in this case, two questions) put into one. Between the two independent clauses (in this case, questions) you <b>use a comma</b> and one of the coordinating conjunctions -- in this case, "or."

Answer 2

See #2: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sentences.htm#sentence_types

Answer 3

Comma is use after 'or' or any pause.

Writeacher is right.

Answer 4

Alyshan, please be careful about the use of commas after "any pause." Many are just pauses in speech, but have no basis for the use of a comma. The very well stated comma rules in that website above are really nice and concentrated (not too many to remember). Another really good source of information is Lynn Truss's book <i>Eats, Shoots & Leaves</i>. If I'm remembering correctly, she compacts all the comma uses into three general categories, none of which have to do with pauses in speech.