while (getline(line, sizeof(line)) > 0) { if (sscanf(line, "%d %s %d", &day, monthname, &year) == 3) printf("valid: %s\n", line); /* 25 Dec 1988 form */ else if (sscanf(line, "%d/%d/%d", &month, &day, &year) == 3) printf("valid: %s\n", line); /* mm/dd/yy form */ else printf("invalid: %s\n", line); /* invalid form */ }