Update Well, I thought doing a s///e on it would be the ticket, but apparently not. I'll keep working on it though. :-)

Update: The following code will work, you just have to change your placeholder from $1 to %s.

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;

my $find = 'proof(\S+)';
my $rpl  = 'read%s';
my $text = 'proofing is proof it needed to be proofed';

if ($text =~ s/$find/ sprintf($rpl,$1) /e) {
    print "1st replacement made:\n\t$text\n";
}
[download]

-caedes

Regarding: Well, I thought doing a s//e on it would be the ticket, but apparently not.

It takes a little extra work, but it is certainly do-able...

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;

my $find = 'proof(\S+)';
my $rpl  = '"read$1"';
my $text = 'proofing is proof it needed to be proofed';

if ($text =~ s/$find/$rpl/ee) {
    print "1st replacement made:\n\t$text\n";
}
[download]

The double /ee is needed. The first /e sub's in the value of $rpl. The second /e evaluates that and DWIM's.

The nested quotes are needed in defining $rpl because without the inner double-quotes, the second /e fails. Another way to do that bit (and this may help in understanding) would be: my $rpl  = '"read" . $1'; You have to get both the quoting and the /ee right for the thing to work as intended.

HTH

------------------------------------------------------------
"Perl is a mess and that's good because the
problem space is also a mess." - Larry Wall

ObSecurity: Of course remember that this is an eval, so be sure to turn tainting on and watch where you're getting your input if what's winding up in $1 could come from an untrusted source (i.e. from a filthy user :).

Triple sweetness! Now I understand. I think I'll use the following version, because it gives me the same end result (having a double-quoted replacement expression on the final evaluation) and allows me to use the replacement expression as it is given to me.

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;

my $find = 'proof(\S+)';
my $rpl  = 'read$1';
my $text = 'proofing is proof it needed to be proofed';

if ($text =~ s/$find/"\"$rpl\""/ee) {
    print "1st replacement made:\n\t$text\n";
}
[download]