Sorry I can't help but comment. A blank is one thing but it's like you have a black hole in the side of your brain 
my @words = split /\s+/, $var;
That what you want?
Or more accurate....
my @words = grep { /^\w+$/ } split /\s+/, $var;
my @words = split /\s+/, $var;
That what you want?
Or more accurate....
my @words = grep { /^\w+$/ } split /\s+/, $var;
