diff --git a/game/scripts/utility/common_functions.rpy b/game/scripts/utility/common_functions.rpy
index 9c4b4d15..12938c08 100644
--- a/game/scripts/utility/common_functions.rpy
+++ b/game/scripts/utility/common_functions.rpy
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ init python early:
         tens = ("","ten","twenty","thirty","forty","fifty","sixty","seventy","eighty","ninety")
         thousands = ("","thousand","million","billion","trillion","quadrillion","quintillion","sextillion","septillion","octillion","nonillion","decillion","undecillion","duodecillion","tredecillion","quattuordecillion","sexdecillion","septendecillion","octodecillion","novemdecillion","vigintillion")
 
-        output = []
+        output = [] # list of iterables of strings (reminder that strings are iterables of strings)
         if n == 0:
             output.append("zero")
         else:
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ init python early:
                 g = groups-(i//3+1)
 
                 if h > 0:
-                    output.append(units[h]+" hundred")
+                    output.append((units[h], " hundred"))
                 if t > 1:
                     if u > 0:
-                        output.append(tens[t]+"-"+units[u])
+                        output.append((tens[t], "-", units[u]))
                     else:
                         output.append(tens[t])
                 elif t == 1:
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ init python early:
 
                 if g > 0 and (h+t+u) > 0:
                     if i == (groups*3)-6:
-                        output.append(thousands[g]+" and")
+                        output.append((thousands[g], " and"))
                     else:
-                        output.append(thousands[g]+",")
+                        output.append((thousands[g], ","))
 
         if readable:
-            output = " ".join(output)
+            output = " ".join("".join(o) for o in output)
         return output
 
     def clamp(n, smallest, largest):