Strange notation for a decimal expansion of a transcendental number

Question

I am checking page proofs for one of my papers right now and an editor changed

$\zeta(3)=1.202$$\ldots$

to:

$\zeta(3) = 1.202,...,$

I find this latter notation very strange and think it is a mistake. I want to tell them to change it back, but want to make sure that it's not some strange notation that I've never seen but is indeed legitimate.

Has anyone seen someone write the equivalent of $3.14,...,$ to represent the decimal expansion of a transcendental number?

Answer 1

There are editors and then there are typesetters, who may not be mathematicians at all. I had some four digit integers such as 1375. In partcular, I had some sextuples of integers, one was $\langle 1,4,3375,0,0,1 \rangle $ with the integers separated by commas. Some overzealous copy person, with more training in English than mathematics, decided that standard English puts commas in numbers in the thousands (true) and changed it to $\langle 1,4,3,375,0,0,1 \rangle $ which is a disaster, it now has seven integers.

I complained quickly, before giving back the actual corrected proofs. the mathematical editor (whom I had cc'd) sent a note supporting me and cc'd me in return. So, it all worked out.

My advice is to complain quickly but politely and cc some of the mathematicians involved with this publication.