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while (1) {
   print 'Please enter a word: ';
...
   last if $word =~ /^\s*$/;
   print "You entered '$word'\n";
}

# Had to duplicate the prompt, <read>, and chomp.
# Duplication is bad!
...
   print 'Please enter a word: ';
   chomp($word = <STDIN>);
}

# Had to add `not defined $word` to handle the special case
# during the first time through the loop. Very Ugly!
...
       print "You entered '$word'\n";
   }
}

# Instead of using `not defined $word`, I force
# non-whitespace into $word.
...
       print "You entered '$word'\n";
   }
}

# Still had to duplicate code `$word !~ /^\s*$/`
my $word;
...
       print "You entered '$word'\n";
   }
} while $word !~ /^\s*$/;

sub prompt {
    my ($prompt_string) = @_;
...
while ( my $word = prompt('Please enter a word: ') ) {
    print "You entered '$word'\n";
}

use IO::Prompt;
while (my $word=prompt 'Please enter a word: ', -while => qr/\S/) {
    print "You entered '$word'\n";
}