C:\test>perl -c junk92.pl Illegal character in prototype for main::mergeSort : \@arrayRef at junk92.pl line 27. Scalar value @leftSide[$i] better written as $leftSide[$i] at junk92.pl line 40. Scalar value @leftSide[$i] better written as $leftSide[$i] at junk92.pl line 41. Scalar value @rightSide[$i - $middle] better written as $rightSide[$i - $middle] at junk92.pl line 47. Scalar value @rightSide[$i - $middle] better written as $rightSide[$i - $middle] at junk92.pl line 48. Prototype mismatch: sub main::mergeSort (\@) vs (\@arrayRef) at junk92.pl line 55. Scalar value @groupA[$i] better written as $groupA[$i] at junk92.pl line 62. Scalar value @groupB[$j] better written as $groupB[$j] at junk92.pl line 62. Scalar value @groupA[$i] better written as $groupA[$i] at junk92.pl line 63. Scalar value @groupB[$j] better written as $groupB[$j] at junk92.pl line 67. Scalar value @groupA[$i] better written as $groupA[$i] at junk92.pl line 73. Scalar value @groupB[$j] better written as $groupB[$j] at junk92.pl line 78. junk92.pl syntax OK