when i try to compare 'you' it matches 'you' & 'you'll' and 'you're' etc

i'm using if ($short1 eq $short2).

Okay, you've confused me. The string 'you' does not "match" the string "you'll" using string equality (eq).

All I got out of your post is that you are looking for a way to find strings that contain 'you' might contain "you'd" but must not contain "you'll" or "you're"... is that right? Something like

$short1 =~ /^you(?:'d)?$/;
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If not, maybe you could supply us with some code or a better example.

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";