@array1=('adam west', 'daric dalon','tom helic','todd nick','riley remer'); @array2=('adam west 12', 'daric dalon mr.','tom helic (fads)','todd nick (456)','riley remer','john steve','dim madz 12'); $array1Size=@array1; $array2Size=@array2; $count = 0; for ( $j = 0 ; $j < $array1Size ; $j++ ) { for ( $k = 0 ; $k < $array2Size ; $k++ ) { if ( $array1[$j] =~ $array2[$k] ) { do something; } else { do something; } } }