#!/usr/bin/perl -w

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

if ($text =~ s/$find/$rpl/) {
    print "1st replacement made:\n\t$text\n";
}
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I realize this is a trivial example, but I'm trying to figure out how to change the s/// portion of the code so it replaces 'proofing' with 'reading' (instead of 'read$1'). I'd be more than happy to RTFM if someone wants to point me in the right direction... it's just that I've been looking for the last 2 hours and I'm starting to feel numb.