# Removed brackets, replaced || with or due to higher presedence and readability # used single quotes on uninterpolated strings. open MAIL,'|mailx blah' or die "No mail stuff: $!\n"; # Stuck the if statements at the end so it's more natural. print MAIL "\n$ct is down at this time.\n" if $ct == 1; print MAIL "\n$ct are not available at this time.\n" if $ct >= 2; close(MAIL);