diff --git a/list_same/list_same b/list_same/list_same
index 2c98034..da5346a 100755
--- a/list_same/list_same
+++ b/list_same/list_same
@@ -172,14 +172,7 @@ sub output_doubles(@) {
 sub output($) {
 	my $string = shift;
 	if ($opts{e}) {
-		$string =~ s/\\/\\\\/g;
-		$string =~ s/ /\\ /g;
-		$string =~ s/'/\\'/g;
-		$string =~ s/"/\\"/g;
-		$string =~ s/\(/\\\(/g;
-		$string =~ s/\)/\\\)/g;
-		$string =~ s/\[/\\\[/g;
-		$string =~ s/\]/\\\]/g;
+		$string =~ s/([\&\;\`\'\\\"\|\*\?\~\<\>\^\(\)\[\]\{\}\$\010\013\020\011])/\\${1}/g;
 		print "$string";
 	} else {
 		print "$string";
@@ -201,5 +194,3 @@ Usage: $name [OPTION] ...
 EOF
 	exit;
 }
-
-