Tuple Semantics - Rationale'?

[Steven D. Majewski]

Singleton tuple syntax is an odd cosmetic wart of Python,
caused by using the same delimiters "( )" for both 
expression grouping and tuple literals. You don't have
the same problem with singleton lists because
[1],  [1+3] and 2*[1+3] are all unambiguous. 

Without the singleton comma rule:

(1),  (1+3), and 2*(1+3)

all would have two possible interpretations:

 1,    4,   8
(1)   (4)   (4,4) 

So the comma is required to distinguish them. 


Problem is, there just aren't enough delimiters in Ascii! 

-- Steve Majewski