m/t([^e]*)e/, m/wri([^e]*)en/); #### Benchmark: timing 300000 iterations of dotstar, negchar... on string q/tddddde/ dotstar: 1 wallclock secs ( 1.37 usr + 0.00 sys = 1.37 CPU) @ 218658.89/s (n=300000) negchar: 0 wallclock secs ( 0.95 usr + 0.00 sys = 0.95 CPU) @ 315457.41/s (n=300000) Rate dotstar negchar dotstar 218659/s -- -31% negchar 315457/s 44% --