I have significant difficulty in accepting that hypothesis.

$i/$j/(occasionally) $k are sufficiently widely-used and well-known that they are acceptable as loop counters. $x/$y/$z are appropriate for geometric coordinates, again due to long and widespread use.

Offhand, I can think of no other cases in which a single-character variable name is "reasonably appropriate", regardless of whether it happens to conflict with a magical name built into the language or not.

In reply to Re^3: my $a outside sort block incompatibility by dsheroh
in thread my $a outside sort block incompatibility by Anonymous Monk

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