diff --git a/mode/perl.py b/mode/perl.py
index d920298..cbaf4a0 100644
--- a/mode/perl.py
+++ b/mode/perl.py
@@ -49,9 +49,8 @@ class PodGrammar(Grammar):
     ]
 
 scalar_rules = [
-    PatternRule('perl.array', r"\@_"),
     PatternRule('perl.array', r"\@(?= *{)"),
-    PatternRule('perl.array', r'\@[\+\-]'),
+    PatternRule('perl.array', r'\@[_\+\-]'),
     PatternRule('perl.array', r"\@\$*" + word2),
     PatternRule('perl.array', r'\$' + word2 + '(?= *\[)'),
 
@@ -60,6 +59,7 @@ scalar_rules = [
     PatternRule('perl.hash', r"\%\$*" + word2),
     PatternRule('perl.hash', r'\$' + word2 + '(?= *\{)'),
 
+    PatternRule('perl.hash', r"\$(?= *{)"),
     PatternRule('perl.scalar', r'\$[_&`\'\+\*\.|,\\";#\%=\-~\^:\?!@\$<>()\[\]](?!' + wchr2 + ')'),
     PatternRule('perl.scalar', r'\$\d+(?!' + wchr2 +')'),
     PatternRule('perl.scalar', r'\$\^(?:' + word1 + '|' + wchr1 + ')'),
@@ -238,9 +238,9 @@ PerlGrammar.rules = [
 
     # quote operator: qq(), qx() and qr() usually interpolate
     RegionRule('perl.quoted', r'q[rqx] *(?P<delim>\()', MatchGrammar3, r'\)'),
-    RegionRule('perl.quoted', 'q[rqx] *(?P<delim>{)', MatchGrammar4, '}'),
-    RegionRule('perl.quoted', 'q[rqx] *(?P<delim><)', MatchGrammar5, '>'),
-    RegionRule('perl.quoted', r'q[rqx] *(?P<delim>\[)', MatchGrammar6, r'\]'),
+    RegionRule('perl.quoted', r'q[rqx] *(?P<delim>\[)', MatchGrammar4, r'\]'),
+    RegionRule('perl.quoted', 'q[rqx] *(?P<delim>{)', MatchGrammar5, '}'),
+    RegionRule('perl.quoted', 'q[rqx] *(?P<delim><)', MatchGrammar6, '>'),
     RegionRule('perl.quoted', 'q[rqx](?P<delim>#)', MatchGrammar2, '#'),
     RegionRule('perl.quoted', 'q[rqx] *(?P<delim>/)', MatchGrammar1, '/'),
     RegionRule('perl.quoted', 'q[rqx] *(?P<delim>[^ a-zA-Z0-9#])', MatchGrammar0, '%(delim)s'),
@@ -737,35 +737,35 @@ class PerlContext(context.Context):
             i += 1
 
 # white is for delimiters, operators, numbers
-default = ('default', 'default', 'bold')
+default = ('default', 'default')
 
 # magenta is for keywords/builtins, translation, globs
-lo_magenta = ('magenta202', 'default', 'bold')
-hi_magenta = ('magenta505', 'default', 'bold')
+lo_magenta = ('magenta202', 'default')
+hi_magenta = ('magenta505', 'default')
 
 # red is for comments, pods, endblocks
-lo_red = ('red300', 'default', 'bold')
-hi_red = ('red511', 'default', 'bold')
+lo_red = ('red300', 'default')
+hi_red = ('red511', 'default')
 
 # orange are for arrays and hashes
-hi_orange = ('yellow531', 'default', 'bold')
-lo_orange = ('yellow520', 'default', 'bold')
+hi_orange = ('yellow531', 'default')
+lo_orange = ('yellow520', 'default')
 
 # yellow is for scalars and prototypes
-hi_yellow = ('yellow551', 'default', 'bold')
-lo_yellow = ('yellow330', 'default', 'bold')
+hi_yellow = ('yellow551', 'default')
+lo_yellow = ('yellow330', 'default')
 
 # green is for strings and hash keys
-lo_green = ('green030', 'default', 'bold')
-hi_green = ('green050', 'default', 'bold')
+lo_green = ('green030', 'default')
+hi_green = ('green050', 'default')
 
 # cyan is for quotes, evals, regexes, subs
-lo_cyan = ('cyan033', 'default', 'bold')
-hi_cyan = ('cyan255', 'default', 'bold')
+lo_cyan = ('cyan033', 'default')
+hi_cyan = ('cyan155', 'default')
 
 # blue is unused
-lo_blue = ('blue113', 'default', 'bold')
-hi_blue = ('blue225', 'default', 'bold')
+lo_blue = ('blue113', 'default')
+hi_blue = ('blue225', 'default')
 
 class Perl(Fundamental):
     name        = 'Perl'
@@ -809,10 +809,10 @@ class Perl(Fundamental):
         'perl.method':    hi_cyan,
         'perl.function':  hi_cyan,
         'perl.label':     hi_cyan,
-        'perl.package':   hi_cyan,
-        'perl.class':     hi_cyan,
-        'perl.use':       hi_cyan,
-        'perl.require':   hi_cyan,
+        'perl.package':   hi_blue,
+        'perl.class':     hi_blue,
+        'perl.use':       hi_blue,
+        'perl.require':   hi_blue,
 
         # end/data block
         'endblock.start': hi_red,