$ echo "unix" | awk 'BEGIN {FS=OFS=""} END { if (!found) print "FAILED" } $1 == "u" { print "PASSED"; found++ } ' PASSED $ echo "unix" | awk 'BEGIN {FS=OFS=""} END { if (!found) print "FAILED" } $1 == "g" { print "PASSED"; found++ } ' FAILED