$ perl5.8.9.exe reallyperlconfusingerror.pl Bareword found where operator expected at reallyperlconfusingerror.pl line 5, near "print "a - b -Q" (Might be a runaway multi-line -- string starting on line 3) (Do you need to predeclare print?) String found where operator expected at reallyperlconfusingerror.pl line 5, at end of line (Missing semicolon on previous line?) syntax error at reallyperlconfusingerror.pl line 5, near "print "a - b -Q" Can't find string terminator '"' anywhere before EOF at reallyperlconfusingerror.pl line 5.