Oxford Comma Or Not?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/27/brexit-50p-coin-boycott-philip-pullman-oxford-comma
I say it doesn't need one.

[ludwig]

//How can cheese and onion be one thing? //

When it's a bag of crisps.

[Cloverjo]

Because it’s one thing. Cheese & onion crisps. Not cheese crisps and onion crisps.

[THECORBYLOON]

I see Pullman has tweeted, "The 'Brexit' 50p coin is missing an Oxford comma, and should be boycotted by all literate people."

Why has he put a comma before the "and"?

[douglas9401]

Growing up in the sixties I got the impression that most of the commas went to Cambridge.

[ludwig]

//Why has he put a comma before the "and"? //

Because it's correct in that context.

[JimF]

"Why has he put a comma before the "and"?"

LOL!

[THECORBYLOON]

"Compare: ‘I dedicate this book to my parents, Martin Amis, and JK Rowling’ with ‘I dedicate this book to my parents, Martin Amis and JK Rowling’.” 

Why not write, "I dedicate this book to Martin Amis, JK Rowling and my parents"?

No Oxford comma and no confusion.

[THECORBYLOON]

LUDWIG, why is it correct?

[ludwig]

// LUDWIG, why is it correct? //

Because it represents a pause in the flow of the sentence.

[Peter Pedant]

we were taught commas but not before 'and' in a list

we were taught by famous theologians as punishment ( theirs not ours) Illtyd Trethowan and Joseph Rhymer
they didnt pray hard enough or something.

[10ClarionSt]

Anyway, I prefer Prawn Cocktail. No commas. No "and". :o)

[ludwig]

// No Oxford comma and no confusion. //

Where the confusion in the first place? There are clearly 3 entities that book needs to be dedicated to:-
1. His/Her parents
2. Martin Amis
3. JK Rowling

In your comma-less sentence there appear to be only two entities
1. Martin Amis
2. JK Rowling and the parents.

Presumably number 2 is some strange menage a trois of some kind?

[THECORBYLOON]

I see no pause, LUDWIG.

[THECORBYLOON]

If there were already a need for a comma to precede "and" in a list, why does the "Oxford comma" exist as a separate entity?

[Lie-in King]

When I saw the coin, my first thought was that they'd left a comma out, but no, it doesn't actually *need* one.

[Cloverjo]

Why do they make collectible coins? That’s not great for the economy is it?
I’ve got a full set of the 2012 Olympic coins, but what good are they doing in my drawer?

[waterboatman]

Much ado about nothing.

[emmie]

all a bit of a nonsense, does it really matter in the grand scheme of things.

[theshedman]

Diddly, how can you hoard and/or deface it when on the "Brexit Day 50P Coin Unveiled thread" where you compared Brexit with losing a loved one you said "I shall scrutinise any change I'm given and reject these".

[Old_Geezer]

Should always have one anyway. No need for a boycott though.