Even the distinction between $comment and $comments isn't very great, in my opinion. For reading code more than writing, that is. If using singular/plural to make the distinction like that, I'd probably make some further distinction as well, if two variable names were that similar. If all else failed maybe $a_comment (ugh, that's ugly) or $single_comment or $final_comment or $comment_about_dogs or who knows what.

So far as _ref, I guess the deciding factor is whether it's more important to easily tell references from non-references, or arrays/hashes from scalars.

If you see $var_ref, then first you can immediately tell "It's a reference!" and then you'll have determine whether it's an array ref, hash ref, or scalar ref or whatever.

On the other hand if you're using plural/singular to make the distinction, then if you see $items you first know "It's an array!", and then you're faced with figuring out (or remembering) if it's an array item or array reference. $items[1] vs. $items->[1] aren't so easy to distinguish at a glance, especially if it's buried in the middle of a bunch of other line noise.

I can easily see the argument going either way. I'd personally lean towards using _ref because I find myself mixing up hashrefs with hashes pretty often while writing code. I believe Damian mentions in the book that it's helpful if typing _ref-> as a unit becomes a habit, and it seems to work for me.

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