(String s : "abc,def,,gh, ijk ".split(",")) { if (!s.isEmpty()) { strings.add(s.trim()); } } Splitter splitter = Splitter.on(",") .omitEmptyStrings() .trimResults(); Iterable<String> strings = splitter.split("abc,def,,gh, ijk "); Iterable<String> strings2 = splitter.split("lmno,, pqrstu,vwxyz ");