diff --git a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/DisplayText.cs b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/DisplayText.cs
index 1ffb2427..a41d3802 100644
--- a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/DisplayText.cs
+++ b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/DisplayText.cs
@@ -1718,12 +1718,31 @@ namespace Volian.Controls.Library
 			{
 				if (foundMatch.MyWord != null)
 				{
-					text = text.Substring(0, offset + foundMatch.MyMatch.Index) + foundMatch.MyWord.ReplaceWith + text.Substring(offset + foundMatch.MyMatch.Index + foundMatch.MyMatch.Length);
-					offset += foundMatch.MyWord.ReplaceWith.Length - foundMatch.MyMatch.Length;
+					if (VerifyNoHardSpace(text, foundMatch, offset))
+					{
+						text = text.Substring(0, offset + foundMatch.MyMatch.Index) + foundMatch.MyWord.ReplaceWith + text.Substring(offset + foundMatch.MyMatch.Index + foundMatch.MyMatch.Length);
+						offset += foundMatch.MyWord.ReplaceWith.Length - foundMatch.MyMatch.Length;
+					}
 				}
 			}
 			return text;
 		}
+
+		private bool VerifyNoHardSpace(string text, FoundMatch foundMatch, int offset)
+		{
+			string begin = text.Substring(0, offset + foundMatch.MyMatch.Index);
+			string end = text.Substring(offset + foundMatch.MyMatch.Index + foundMatch.MyMatch.Length);
+			if (text.StartsWith(@"{\rtf"))
+			{
+				// make sure that it is not preceded by \u160? \'a0 or \~
+				if(Regex.IsMatch(begin,@"(\\(u160\?|'a0|~)(\\f[0-9]* ?)*(\\fs[0-9]* ?)*)$"))
+					return false;
+				// make sure that it is not followed by \u160? \'a0 or \~
+				if(Regex.IsMatch(end,@"^((\\f[0-9]* ?)*(\\fs[0-9]* ?)*\\(u160\?|'a0|~))"))
+					return false;
+			}
+			return true;
+		}
 	}
 	public class FoundMatch
 	{