For want of a comma

Am I glad to see that the Oxford Comma still is important! For years people have been telling me not to use it, but I was taught at school that every item in a list must be separated from the next by a comma.

I was taught the Oxford comma also applies before the word and, both in lists and elsewhere;
red, white, and blue, what does it mean to you?
Not red, white and blue, what does it mean to you?

I was taught red, white and blue.
No comma before 'and'

Same here nina.

Me too, nina

I don't put a comma before and in a list. Are you in the USA grandtante? I believe it is common practice there.

It's just a matter of style and consistency. The Oxford comma is the one that you can use after "and" - or not. Publishing houses have their own policies on this, and the Oxford press favours the use of the comma (as does much American writing).
It's not wrong to use it or to omit it, but there are times when clarity requires it. "I would like to acknowledge the support I've received from my parents, my teacher, and the vicar," is clear, but try leaving out the last comma and you begin to wonder who the speaker's parents were!"
It makes me mad the way legal documents omit commas on the grounds that they might cause confusion or be forged. After all, they still use full stops! The comma is there to aid clarity and communication.

I was taught that there is no comma before 'and' in a list.

It is not usual in the British form of English to use a listing comma. The comma is used in place of 'and' but is not required when 'and' is used.

I would use a colon between my parents: the teacher and the vicar if the teacher and vicar were my parents.

Colon or semi colon Jalima?

A colon I think
wondering now

A colon because it is explaining the first part of the sentence.

You're probably right! I use a semi colon but I'd be the first to admit that my punctuation isn't great. Wish I'd paid more attention at school

I would ask DD but it could take a long time and a lengthy explanation .....

Yes, Jalina, a colon would do the job nicely; but what if your parents were not the teacher and the vicar? Only the listing or "Oxford" comma will make it clear what you mean. And it's acceptable use in British English too - there's a clue in the name "Oxford"!

OK!!

And my parents weren't a teacher and a vicar!!