print "$_: ", /^\w+$/ && !/^\d+$/ ? 'Good' : 'Bad' for qw[ abc a1c 1b3 123 ];; abc: Good a1c: Good 1b3: Good 123: Bad #### print "$_: ", /^(?=.*[a-zA-z])\w+$/ ? 'Good' : 'Bad' for qw[ abc a1c 1b3 123 ];; abc: Good a1c: Good 1b3: Good 123: Bad