#!/usr/bin/perl -w use strict; while(){ my @w = /^(\w+)\s+(\w+)$/; print "<$w[0]><$w[1]>\n"; } __DATA__ abc def xyz 6-7 123 456 #### Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at x line 5, line 2. Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at x line 5, line 2. <><> <123><456>