"jeffrey" =~ /(.*?)(.)\2(.*)/; print "$1 + $2 + $2 + $3 = $1$2$2$3\n"; { local ($1,$2,$3); print "$1 + $2 + $2 + $3 = $1$2$2$3\n"; "" =~ /(?=)/; print "$1 + $2 + $2 + $3 = $1$2$2$3\n"; } #### je + f + f + rey = jeffrey je + f + f + rey = jeffrey + + + =