use Regexp::Subst::Parallel; $_ = "I like apples but I don't like oranges.\n"; #Off-the-cuff implementation: I like bananas but I don't like pinebananas. { local $_=$_; s/orange/pineapple/g; s/apple/banana/g; print; } #Carefully crafted regexp: I like bananas but I don't like pineapples. { local $_=$_; s/orange/pineapple/g; s/\bapple/banana/g; print; } #Considered ordering: I like bananas but I don't like pineapples. { local $_=$_; s/apple/banana/g; s/orange/pineapple/g; print; } #Care-free substitution: I like bananas but I don't like pineapples. { local $_=$_; print subst($_, 'orange'=>'pineapple', 'apple' =>'banana'); }