erase duplicate words?

[jmace]

I was wonder how I can use preg_replace() to change a string like this:

Sponge Face Painting Applicators Medium Sponge Applicator

Into a string like this:

Face Painting Medium Sponge Applicator

In other words, because the word "Sponge" is in the string twice, and "Applicator" is in the string twice (except that the first ends in an s) they would be gone. I've tried stuff like:

$title = preg_replace('/(?:\W|^)(\w*?)(?:\W.*?)(?=\1)/',"",$title);

But it's way off and gives me:

Sponge Applicator

 

Any help would be great!

[sasa]

try

<?php
$test = 'Sponge Face Painting Applicators Medium Sponge Applicator';
$c = 1;
while ($c) $test = preg_replace('/^(.*?)(\b[^ ]+?)s?\b (.*\b\2s?\b.*$)/', '\1\3', $test,-1,$c);
echo $test;
?>

[jmace]

Thanks you so much for the example! That works perfectly. I owe you one.