UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi Forum
im trying to use grouping in a regex statement in a function in a script
this is the criteria im trying to match :It MUST have 3 character at the beginning. After that it can have a mix of spaces,alpha-numeric and dashes in any order
eg HUG this-stuff, FGU taylor-8-shoes, ZDFnintendo DSI
this is what i have

Code:

validProductName ()
{
 echo "${1}" | grep -E "[A-Z]{2}([ ][[:alnum:]][-])+"

 if [ ${?} -ne 0 ]; then
 {
  currentLineValid='false' 
  whichFieldErrored='ProNAME'
 }
 fi

}

the line that giving me trouble
grep part

Code:

 echo "${1}" | grep -E "[A-Z]{2}([ ][[:alnum:]][-])+"

am i using grouping right or am i not even close
if i am doing it wrong can you explain what it is that im doing wrong
any help will be much appreciated and thank you in advance

Code:

grep -E "^[A-Z]{3}[[:alnum:][:space:]-]+"

Oh i see i will give this a try thank you