Don't do that! Using single character identifiers is generally frowned on. Using 'special' single character identifiers is simply asking for trouble (as you have found). In most cases more explicit identifiers make code easier to maintain and avoid a range of traps. It may be appropriate to use $paramA or $aTerm for example

True laziness is hard work

In reply to Re: my $a outside sort block incompatibility by GrandFather
in thread my $a outside sort block incompatibility by Anonymous Monk

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