use strict; my @array=('GAP_SPAN09 - GAP SPAN base (Scratch Testing [TSMC11] : tsmc11 +_wld(sxfatd12j)) GAP_SPAN03 - GAP SPAN base (DFD E2E Testing [TSPAN04 +] : tspan04-dfdint-wld(sxfamd6f)) POS_WLI02 - POS_WLI02 Web Logic Int +egrator'); my @newarray = $array[0] =~ /(\S+) - /g; print "$_\n" for @newarray;