---
name: "English"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-5.004-doc"
version: "5.004.05-6"
release: "Debian 2.2 (Potato)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/English/3pm"
---

# English(3pm)

use nice English (or awk) names for ugly punctuation variables

## NAME

English - use nice English (or awk) names for ugly punctuation variables

## SYNOPSIS

```
    use English;
    ...
    if ($ERRNO =~ /denied/) { ... }
```

## DESCRIPTION

This module provides aliases for the built-in variables whose names no one seems to like to read.  Variables with side-effects which get triggered just by accessing them (like `$0`) will still  be affected.

For those variables that have an **awk** version, both long and short English alternatives are provided.  For example,  the `$/` variable can be referred to either `$RS` or  `$INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR` if you are using the English module.

See the *perlvar* manpage for a complete list of these.