I would usually structure the question a bit, give a couple test cases with different formats and ask something like "write a class..." if in Python, etc. I wa

I would usually structure the question a bit, give a couple test cases with different formats and ask something like "write a class..." if in Python, etc. I wasn't trying to trap anyone who might actually think /\w+@\w+/ covers the range of all possible addresses. Digression: I do miss the days when you could assume a candidate for a position at Aquatic Widgets Incorporated would know something about water, or about widgets, or at least would have looked up what an aquatic widget is before bothering to come in for an interview, but those days have long since departed the realm of Software Engineering as far as I can tell. Which may be a good thing from the engineers' point of view, I'm not sure.