my @numbers = $aKnosID =~ m/([a]{2,}|[b]{2,}|[c]{2,}|[d]{2,}|[e]{2,}|[f]{2,}|[g]{2,}|[h]{2,}|[i]{2,}|[j]{2,}|[k]{2,}|[l]{2,}|[m]{2,}|[n]{2,}|[o]{2,}|[p]{2,}|[q]{2,}|[r]{2,}|[s]{2,}|[t]{2,}|[u]{2,}|[v]{2,}|[w]{2,}|[x]{2,}|[y]{2,}|[z]{2,})/g; if ( @numbers > 0 ) { #repetetive strings here; for ($i=0;$i<@numbers;$i++) { #Do something } } else { }