unless(@lexlist){@lexlist = sort keys %lexicon}; #### &lex(); &lex(1,2,3); sub lex{ @lexlist = @_; if(@lexlist){ print "I got the lexlist, here it is: @lexlist \n" }else { print "where's the list?\n"; } } #### ($_='jjjuuusssttt annootthheer pppeeerrrlll haaaccckkeer')=~y/a-z//s;print;