Detecting float or int in a string

[bowlofred]

I don't see anything wrong with using a try/except for handling an attempt to see if something is or is not compatible with float().

Float will handle exponential notation while yours will not. Up to you if that's a problem. Yours will not handle negative numbers or numbers with an explicit plus sign.

>>> [float(x) for x in ("1e3", "-12", "+3.5")]
[1000.0, -12.0, 3.5]