/* Period as a placeholder */
stars='Arcturus Betelgeuse Sirius Rigil'
parse var stars . . brightest . /* brightest='Sirius' */
/* Alternative to period as placeholder */
stars='Arcturus Betelgeuse Sirius Rigil'
parse var stars drop junk brightest rest /* brightest='Sirius' */
A
placeholder saves the overhead of unneeded variables.