$dr = qr/(?:dr\.|doctor)/; $gn = qr/(?:condoleeza)/; $sn = qr/(?:rice)/; / $dr \s+ $sn | $dr \s+ $gn \s+ $sn | $gn \s+ $sn /x #### $dr = qr/(?:dr\.|doctor)/; $gn = qr/(?:condoleeza)/; $sn = qr/(?:rice)/; /(?:$dr (?:\s+ $gn)? | $gn) \s+ $sn/x