DB<98> say "$_:\t", $_ =~ s/(\w\w).*\@.*(\.\w*)/$1...\@...$2/r for qw/someone@example.co.uk andrew.test@some.company.co.uk jo@abc.com/ someone@example.co.uk: so...@....uk andrew.test@some.company.co.uk: an...@....uk jo@abc.com: jo...@....com