parse_string behavor



I get premature termination at $ error below:
-------------------------
(%i1) display2d:false$
(%i2) l1 : "is much simplified"$
(%i3) l2 : "is much simplified if"$
(%i4) l1s : split (l1);
(%o4) ["is","much","simplified"]
(%i5) l2s : split (l2);
(%o5) ["is","much","simplified","if"]
(%i6) map ('parse_string,l1s);
(%o6) [is,much,simplified]
(%i7) map ('parse_string,l2s);
incorrect syntax: Premature termination of input at $.

(%i8) map('parse_string,["only","if"]);
incorrect syntax: Premature termination of input at $.
(%i9) parse_string ("if");
incorrect syntax: Premature termination of input at $.

Is there a fix for this?

Ted Woollett