Python regular expression syntax error

Question

I am trying to write a regular expression that will match a - (dash), followed by as many letters as it possibly can. What I have at the moment, is the following: exp = (-[a-z A-z]*).
I am getting a SyntaxError: invalid syntax error though.

Every regular expression in Python must be placed in a string literal — vaultah
– vaultah, Commented Mar 16, 2016 at 18:35
to expand on @vaultah's comment you need to make the expression a string: exp = "(-[a-z A-z]*)" otherwise you try to define a python expression which doesn't like that syntax. — Tadhg McDonald-Jensen
– Tadhg McDonald-Jensen, Commented Mar 16, 2016 at 18:43

Tristan Bodding-Long · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-16 18:48:26Z

6

try placing your expression in a string

import re
exp = re.compile('(-[a-z A-z]*)')

cheers

answered Mar 16, 2016 at 18:48

Tristan Bodding-Long

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