Should there be a comma between two independent questions that follow an introductory clause:
So when you arrived, was Mr. Smith still in his vehicle or was he out of the vehicle?
-or-
So when you arrived, was Mr. Smith still in his vehicle, or was he out of the vehicle?
Answers with references are greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
This is really a question of style, not grammar. While grammar does call for a comma before a coordinating conjunction (i.e., and, or, nor, for, but, yet, so) when it introduces a coordinate clause, like it does in your example, grammar also allows said comma to be eliminated when the preceding main clause is short. While "short" is a rather vague term, few would argue that the preceding main clause in your example isn't short. That means the comma in this case is optional, so it becomes a question of style, not grammar.
