$_ = 'a b c d e'; 
print scalar( split );;
Use of implicit split to @_ is deprecated at (eval 6) line 1, <STDIN> line 1.
5

 $_ = 'a b c d e'; 
print $n = split;;
Use of implicit split to @_ is deprecated at (eval 9) line 1, <STDIN> line 4.
5