diff --git a/src/fenrir/utils/word_utils.py b/src/fenrir/utils/word_utils.py
index f06e5862..8a5e5632 100644
--- a/src/fenrir/utils/word_utils.py
+++ b/src/fenrir/utils/word_utils.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def getPrevWord(currX,currY, currText):
     endOfScreen = False
     if currText == '':
         return -1, -1, '', endOfScreen, lineBreak
-    if currText.strip(string.whitespace) == '':
+    if currText.strip( string.whitespace) == '':
         return currX, currY, '', endOfScreen, lineBreak               
     x, y, currWord, endOfScreen, lineBreakCurrWord = getCurrentWord(currX,currY,currText)
     if endOfScreen:
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def getCurrentWord(currX,currY, currText):
     endOfScreen = False
     if currText == '':
         return -1, -1, '', endOfScreen, lineBreak
-    if currText.strip(string.whitespace) == '':
+    if currText.strip( string.whitespace) == '':
         return currX, currY, '', endOfScreen, lineBreak        
     x = currX
     y = currY
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def getNextWord(currX,currY, currText):
     endOfScreen = False
     if currText == '':
         return -1, -1, '', endOfScreen, lineBreak
-    if currText.strip(string.whitespace) == '':
+    if currText.strip( string.whitespace) == '':
         return currX, currY, '', endOfScreen, lineBreak        
     x = currX
     y = currY