#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;  
use warnings;

my $tag  = '(?:<[^>]*>)';

while (<DATA>) {
    s/($tag*tacos)/yummy $1/g;
    s/($tag*salad)/green $1/g;
    print;
}

__DATA__
I like tacos.
<5b>I <5c>like <5d>tacos.
I like a salad.
<foo>I <foo>like <foo>a <bar><baz><foo>salad.
<foo>I <foo>like <foo>a <bar><baz><foo>salad <bup>with <bobob>tacos.


I like yummy tacos.
<5b>I <5c>like yummy <5d>tacos.
I like a green salad.
<foo>I <foo>like <foo>a green <bar><baz><foo>salad.
<foo>I <foo>like <foo>a green <bar><baz><foo>salad <bup>with yummy <bo
+bob>tacos.
[download]

Is there a reason you are using the /(??{ })/ code block other than just to make a more general solution?

Because I was expecting the OP to refine his question, and come up with a slightly different definition of a "word" (perhaps it needed trailing tags as well, or not more than 2 tags, whatever). Then I only need to change the sub, and not every regex using it.

I think my solution is more general than yours, but the effect is the same.

Abigail

I assumed you were shooting for generality. I just wanted to know if there was a technical reason I was missing.

--

flounder