dupString = dupString.replaceAll("^[\\s\\t]+", ""); dupString = dupString.replaceAll("[\\s\\t]+$", ""); if (!dupString.matches("^\\(.*\\)$")) { Assembler.errors.addElement( new AssemblyError( this.getContent()[0].getLineNumber(), ErrorTableEntry.ErrorType.INVALID_DUP_DIRECTIVE ) ); }