Inane ereg_replace question

I have to get rid of any spaces on either side of the : mark. Can anyone explain why php 3.xx $a="to be or not : to to be"; $b=ereg_replace(" *:",":",$b); $b=ereg_replace(": *",":",$b); works and $b=ereg_replace(" *:|: *",":",$b); does not work. I've had this problem before and ended up using two or more statments rather than one. rm __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/