diff --git a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/punctuationManager.py b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/punctuationManager.py
index 4501b650..4e5ab17e 100644
--- a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/punctuationManager.py
+++ b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/punctuationManager.py
@@ -49,11 +49,38 @@ class PunctuationManager:
     def remove_unused(self, text, curr_level=""):
         # dont translate dot and comma because they create a pause
         curr_all_punct_none = self.allPunctNone.copy()
+        
+        # Check if we should replace undefined punctuation with spaces
+        replace_with_space = self.env["runtime"]["SettingsManager"].get_setting_as_bool(
+            "general", "replaceUndefinedPunctuationWithSpace"
+        )
+        
+        # If the setting is disabled, use the old behavior (remove completely)
+        if not replace_with_space:
+            # Create a map that removes undefined punctuation instead of replacing with spaces
+            curr_all_punct_none = dict.fromkeys(
+                map(ord, string.punctuation + "§ "), None
+            )
+            # Restore the pause-important characters
+            for char in [
+                ord("'"),
+                ord("."),
+                ord(","),
+                ord(";"),
+                ord(":"),
+                ord("?"),
+                ord("!"),
+                ord("-"),
+            ]:
+                curr_all_punct_none[char] = chr(char)
+        
+        # Remove characters that are defined in the current punctuation level
         for char in curr_level:
             try:
                 del curr_all_punct_none[ord(char)]
             except Exception as e:
                 pass
+        
         return text.translate(curr_all_punct_none)
 
     def use_custom_dict(self, text, customDict, seperator=""):
diff --git a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/settingsData.py b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/settingsData.py
index 944775f8..4d8b99be 100644
--- a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/settingsData.py
+++ b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/settingsData.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ settings_data = {
         "punctuationProfile": "default",
         "punctuationLevel": "some",
         "respectPunctuationPause": True,
+        "replaceUndefinedPunctuationWithSpace": True,
         "newLinePause": True,
         "numberOfClipboards": 10,
         "emoticons": True,