if ( $function eq 'load' ) { # this } elsif ( $function eq 'mark' ) { # that } elsif ( $function eq 'foobar' ) { # something completely different } else { # any other stuff or something unexpected? } #### my $junk; ($junk,my $headsent,my $headword) = split(/[sw]/,$h); #### # no $junk anymore and no doubled 'my' ! my ( $headsent, $headword ) = ( split /[sw]/, $h )[1,2];