sub fooprintf (*$fmt, *@args) { ... } sub barprintf ($fmt, *@args) { ... } $foramt = '%5d %10s'; @data = (16, "baz"); @both = ('%5d %10s', 16, "baz"); fooprintf($format, @data); #this works fooprintf(@both); #so will this barprintf($format, @data); #this works barprintf(@both); #this won't work barprintf(*@both); #but this will