The alternative the grandparent suggested
print("error message\n"), next if /^>>/;
could easily be confused for
print("error message\n"); next if /^>>/;
I don't think it's a very good idea.

At least what you used is well established. It is quite ugly, though. I usually fall back to if/elsif. if/elsif even produces shorter lines:

foreach (@w) {
  print "working with $_... ";
  if    (/^>>/               ) { print "error message\n"            }
  elsif (/^\s*([<>])\s*(\S+)/) { print "separated '$1' from '$2'\n" }
  elsif (/^\s*\|/            ) { print "pipefront\n"                }
  elsif (/\|\s*$/            ) { print "pipeend\n"                  }
  else                         { print "\n"                         }
}
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