Hi Erin, this is one way: Block <- c("5600-5699","6100-6199","9700-9799","9400-9499","8300-8399") splBlock <- strsplit(Block,"-") sapply(splBlock, "[", 1) greetings, Remko -- View this message in context: http://r.789695.n4.nabble.com/strsplit-question-tp3896847p3896850.html Sent from the R help mailing list archive at Nabble.com.