Chris Pine wrote: > Yes, but was this true with other methods? > > 'one:two:three'.split (':').each {|x| puts x} But then again there's irb(main):007:0> -100.div(2+4).abs => 17 irb(main):008:0> -100.div (2+4).abs => -17 Here the Ruby whitespace rules align with (at least some definition) of natural precedence: the whitepace before the (2.4).abs chunks it off into the parameter to #div. So, if we have to have significant whitespace, then I think the rules as they stand now are a good compromise. However... I'm not at all convinced that whitespace should be significant. Personally, I'd go with /<method>\s*(/ == /method(/ and drop the cleverness: there is a lot of scope for confusion otherwise. Cheers Dave