vec1 <- c("Internet-Devices Used to Access Internet Past 30 Days [Desktop Computer-Owned by Self]", "Internet-Devices Used to Access Internet Past 30 Days [Tablet-Owned by Other HH Member]", "Internet-Devices Used to Access Internet Past 30 Days [Laptop Computer-Made Available by Your Employer]", "Radio Stations-Listened to Past Week-Quebec City [FM-CFEL-102.1 (blvd 102.1)]") gsub("(Past 30 Days\\s*)([^-]*)([^]]+)", "\\1\\3\\2", vec1)