This seems to work: $pattern = "/(\w+) (?:(?:\w\.|\(\w+\))) (\w+)/" ; $replacement = "\$1 \$2" ; //$string = "John D. Smith" ; $string = "Joanne (Taylor) Smith" ; echo preg_replace( $pattern, $replacement, $string ) ; HTH Ignatius _________________________ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Herhuth, Ron" <Ron.Herhuth@tatumpartners.com> To: <php-windows@lists.php.net> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 2:54 PM Subject: String Help I have an instance where I am trying to remove a couple different string scenerios from a variable. I have spent some time with regEx but I'm not getting anywhere. I'm hoping someone could help me out here. Basically I have names that MAY contain middle initials which I need to remove: John D. Smith I need to strip the "D." so that I have only John Smith In addition I have a few instances where the name contains a secondary last name in parentheses that I need to remove: Joanne (Taylor) Smith I need to strip the Taylor so that I am left with Joanne Smith. If anybody could help me with this I would be very appreciative. Ron -- PHP Windows Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php -- PHP Windows Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
