Is there a reason you are using the /(??{ })/ code block other than just to make a more general solution?

Because I was expecting the OP to refine his question, and come up with a slightly different definition of a "word" (perhaps it needed trailing tags as well, or not more than 2 tags, whatever). Then I only need to change the sub, and not every regex using it.

I think my solution is more general than yours, but the effect is the same.

Abigail