Accessing Hash Elements

[autodidact]

Would anyone happen to know why i'm getting an error with the following code?

 
#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;
 
$family_name{"fred"} = "astaire"; 

I get the following error

syntax error at filename.plx, near "$family_name{"
Execution of filename.plx aborted due to compilation errors.

and when i try

 
#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;
 
@family_name{"fred"} = "astaire"; 

It says Scalar value @family_name{"fred"} better written as $family_name{"fred"} at filename.plx syntax error at filename.plx, near @family_name{"

Why is Perl Contradicting itself?

Thanks In Advance!

[eWish]

You first need the hash. Then you can add elements to it.

#!/usr/bin/perl
 
use strict;
use warnings;
 
my %family_name = ();
 
$family_name{'fred'} = 'astaire';
print $family_name{'fred'};

[autodidact]

You first need the hash. Then you can add elements to it.

#!/usr/bin/perl
 
use strict;
use warnings;
 
my %family_name = ();
 
$family_name{'fred'} = 'astaire';
print $family_name{'fred'};

Thanks!! Sometime programming just gets me riled up when i discover silly mistakes