my $string; print "Double quotes\n"; $string = "LoadStore.SGE.\sr1_addr_reg_tmp_reg[0]"; match(); print "Double quotes with escape\n"; $string = "LoadStore.SGE.\\sr1_addr_reg_tmp_reg[0]"; match(); print "Single quotes\n"; $string = 'LoadStore.SGE.\sr1_addr_reg_tmp_reg[0]'; match(); sub match { if ( $string =~ m/LoadStore\.SGE\.\\.r._addr_reg_tmp_reg/ ) { print "match\n"; } else { print "no match\n"; } }