title: My function for some reason auto-converts a string into a tuple?
body: <p>I'm very confused here. I'm trying to pass an optional string parameter to my function, but once the parameter is added, it converts the string to a tuple? How can I stop it from doing that or convert back?</p>
  
  <p>I have this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>def fen2grid(note, *optional)
      print(optional)
      # here it does other stuff
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>With this when I call it:</p>
  
  <pre><code>fen2grid(example, '.')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>now... the print is supposed to print a period. Just .
  This is just a test before I use it in the function and it seems to be a good thing that I'm testing it.What it prints is </p>
  
  <p>('.',) </p>
  
  <p>I need the period because I need to work with that (it can be any other symbol too)</p>
  
  <p>Any help would be appreciated!</p>