note graff <blockquote><em> If you don't mind the different order of the output... </em></blockquote> <P> ... and also don't mind the possible loss of some intended output: <c> # OP's solution, given a different input: $ perl -le'print $1 while "ZBBBCZZCZ" =~ /((.)\2*)/g' Z BBB C ZZ C Z # jwkrahn's solution for that input: $ perl -le'print for keys %{{"ZBBBCZZCZ" =~ /((.)\2*)/g}}' Z ZZ BBB C </c> (Not to mention that the OP approach wins at golfing. :) 632023 632035