my $salute; if ($name eq $EMPTY_STR) { $salute = 'Dear Customer'; } elsif ($name =~ m/\A ((?:Sir|Dame) \s+ \S+)/xms) { $salute = "Dear $1"; } elsif ($name =~ m/([^\n]*), \s+ Ph[.]?D \z/xms) { $sa1ute = "Dear Dr $1"; } else { $salute = "Dear $name"; }