Think: In a sentence, a comma symbolizes a pause; there will be more to com in the thought shortly. A period symbolizes the end of a thought and the start of another. Here’s an example number: 123,456.789 … That’s One-hundred-twenty-three-thousand four-hundred-fifty-six and seven-hundred-eighty-nine thousandths.

The integer part of the number is 123456. The comma between the sets of three is a pause; more of the “thought” will follow after the 123. To put it another way, more of the integer part of the number will be read shortly.

Imagine if a period was used: The end of the “thought” would come at the period in regular writing. The thing is, when a period is used, you split the integer part of the number in half. Why should the “thought” end halfway through one part of the number? The “thought” should continue until the integer part of the number is finished.

Anyway, that’s why I think the period should symbolize the start of the decimal part of a number rather than a comma. We should keep math and writing consistent, don’t you think?

I hate defending the United States of America in this way, but I think we’re right for once. … Hey, I live here and I think most of the people are culturally illiterate buffoons, but I’ll cut us some slack this time. We’re right, anyone who thinks differently is wrong.

How would you write code that worked e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, not just in small parts of the world?