# passing strings as arguments

**URL:** <https://community.unix.com/t/passing-strings-as-arguments/174764>\
**Category:** UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers\
**Created:** [August 22, 2007, 6:57am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/passing-strings-as-arguments/174764 "2007-08-22T06:57:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![iago](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/iago/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@iago](https://community.unix.com/u/iago)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 6:57am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/passing-strings-as-arguments/174764/1 "2007-08-22T06:57:55Z")

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Is it possible to pass a string as an argument from the command line?

I know I can pass a word in but can I put a line of text in with spaces and fullstops or do I just put it in brackets or quotes so the compiler can differinate between the first argument and the second.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jim\_mcnamara](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/jim_mcnamara/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@jim\_mcnamara](https://community.unix.com/u/jim_mcnamara)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 10:04am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/passing-strings-as-arguments/174764/2 "2007-08-22T10:04:25Z")

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```nohighlight
command "argument number 1 with spaces" "arg # 2 with spaces again"

```

use double quotes so the shell thinks the words are a single blob of text.