Help checking match using variable within regex

[Anti-Moronic]

I have this:

 

preg_match("#$var1#", $var2, $match);

 

Now, sometimes var1 will have very small differences like use of punctuation.

 

Here's what I want:

 

$var1 = "they'll laugh";

$var2 = "theyll laugh";

 

I want regex to find a match, but only using the format above, with the variable already defined.

 

$var1 = "theyll laugh";

$var2 = "they'll laugh";

 

Same there.

 

Any idea? is this even possible with regex or will I have to prepare the strings first?

 

Thanks.

 

[Ken2k7]

You can strip the punctuation marks and then just use === or strcmp or strcasecmp.

[Adam]

It may be safer to take the variable out the string, being as $ is a special character in regex. I'm not totally sure on this though I've just always done it to be safe...

 

preg_match("#".$var1."#", $var2, $match);

 

NB This isn't the solution to your problem though - try Ken's suggestion.