sorry heres the code.... I always do that. From: ryanbloor@hotmail.comTo: Subject: please help... small problemDate: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 21:44:35 +0000 hi Is there anyway to cut down this code and to not use auxillary functons, but instead use pattern matching? The code basically splits up a list 'rslis' into a list of lists - but so each word is split up and the integers have been parsed. so.... ["hi ryan 1","hi jeff 2"] becomes [["hi","ryan" 1], ["hi","jeff", 2]].The code is far too long. I don't wanna use premade functions too much... pattern matching is required. Ryan The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail _________________________________________________________________ Get free emoticon packs and customisation from Windows Live. http://www.pimpmylive.co.uk