diff --git a/config/punctuation/de.conf b/config/punctuation/de.conf
index 81f33903..cebc1805 100644
--- a/config/punctuation/de.conf
+++ b/config/punctuation/de.conf
@@ -44,29 +44,30 @@ _:===:Lienie unten
 =:===:Istgleich
 
 [customDict]
+
 [emoticonDict]
-# This dictionary uses regexp, so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
-[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
-[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
-[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
+# This dictionary uses regexp when prefixed with "regex;", so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
+regex;[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
+regex;[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
 # example for arrow left
 #(?:[ |^])(<-)(?:[ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left
 # or
 #([ |^])<-([ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left\2
-[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
-[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
-[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
+regex;[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
+regex;[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
diff --git a/config/punctuation/default.conf b/config/punctuation/default.conf
index 22cdc00e..69cf5128 100644
--- a/config/punctuation/default.conf
+++ b/config/punctuation/default.conf
@@ -44,31 +44,30 @@ _:===:line
 =:===:equals
 
 [customDict]
-# This dictionary uses regexp, so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
 
 [emoticonDict]
-# This dictionary uses regexp, so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
-[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
-[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
-[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
+# This dictionary uses regexp when prefixed with "regex;", so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
+regex;[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
+regex;[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
 # example for arrow left
 #(?:[ |^])(<-)(?:[ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left
 # or
 #([ |^])<-([ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left\2
-[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
-[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
-[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
+regex;[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
+regex;[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
diff --git a/config/punctuation/en.conf b/config/punctuation/en.conf
index 005a7bb7..686ce536 100644
--- a/config/punctuation/en.conf
+++ b/config/punctuation/en.conf
@@ -44,29 +44,30 @@ _:===:line
 =:===:equals
 
 [customDict]
+
 [emoticonDict]
-# This dictionary uses regexp, so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
-[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
-[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
-[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
+# This dictionary uses regexp when prefixed with "regex;", so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
+regex;[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
+regex;[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
 # example for arrow left
 #(?:[ |^])(<-)(?:[ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left
 # or
 #([ |^])<-([ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left\2
-[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
-[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
-[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
+regex;[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
+regex;[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
diff --git a/config/punctuation/es.conf b/config/punctuation/es.conf
index 8bfe9612..03325679 100644
--- a/config/punctuation/es.conf
+++ b/config/punctuation/es.conf
@@ -44,29 +44,30 @@ _:===:subrayado
 =:===:igual
 
 [customDict]
+
 [emoticonDict]
-# This dictionary uses regexp, so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
-[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
-[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
-[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
+# This dictionary uses regexp when prefixed with "regex;", so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
+regex;[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
+regex;[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
 # example for arrow left
 #(?:[ |^])(<-)(?:[ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left
 # or
 #([ |^])<-([ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left\2
-[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
-[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
-[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
+regex;[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
+regex;[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
diff --git a/config/punctuation/fr.conf b/config/punctuation/fr.conf
index 475db2be..7bff0ed1 100644
--- a/config/punctuation/fr.conf
+++ b/config/punctuation/fr.conf
@@ -44,29 +44,30 @@ _:===:souligné
 =:===:égale à
 
 [customDict]
+
 [emoticonDict]
-# This dictionary uses regexp, so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
-[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
-[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
-[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
+# This dictionary uses regexp when prefixed with "regex;", so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
+regex;[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
+regex;[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
 # example for arrow left
 #(?:[ |^])(<-)(?:[ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left
 # or
 #([ |^])<-([ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left\2
-[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
-[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
-[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
+regex;[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
+regex;[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
diff --git a/config/punctuation/pl.conf b/config/punctuation/pl.conf
index 75152d0c..3cec60c5 100644
--- a/config/punctuation/pl.conf
+++ b/config/punctuation/pl.conf
@@ -44,29 +44,30 @@ _:===:podkreślnik
 =:===:równa się
 
 [customDict]
+
 [emoticonDict]
-# This dictionary uses regexp, so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
-[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
-[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
-[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
-[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
-[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
-[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
+# This dictionary uses regexp when prefixed with "regex;", so be sure to escape anything that would be parsed by regexp, e.g. *, ., ^, $, etc.
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]<{-.-}>:===:Raves
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:-/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]-\.-:===:bugged
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>\.<:===:laughing
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8-X:===:skull
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]>:-\):===:evil smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]\\o/:===:Hurray
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]:/:===:confused
+regex;[\s*|'|"][\s*|'|"]8\):===:smile with sunglasses
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:D[\s*|'|"]:===:laugh
+regex;[\s*|'|"];\)[\s*|'|"]:===:wink
+regex;[\s*|'|"]XD[\s*|'|"]:===:LOL
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:-\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]:\)[\s*|'|"]:===:smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]->[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow right
 # example for arrow left
 #(?:[ |^])(<-)(?:[ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left
 # or
 #([ |^])<-([ ,.!?$]):===:arrow left\2
-[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
-[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
-[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
+regex;[\s*|'|"]<-[\s*|'|"]:===:arrow left
+regex;[\s*|'|"][O|o][O|o][\s*|'|"]:===:WTF?
+regex;[\s*|'|"]\^\^[\s*|'|"]:===:enjoy smile
diff --git a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/punctuationManager.py b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/punctuationManager.py
index 57416204..9e3b28a5 100644
--- a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/punctuationManager.py
+++ b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/punctuationManager.py
@@ -39,9 +39,12 @@ class punctuationManager():
         if customDict:
             for key,item in customDict.items():
                 try:
-                    resultText = re.sub(str(key), seperator + str(item) + seperator, resultText)
-                except:
-                    resultText = resultText.replace(str(key),seperator + str(item) + seperator)
+                    if item.upper().startswith('REGEX;') and (len(item) > 6):
+                        resultText = re.sub(str(key), seperator + str(item[6:]) + seperator, resultText)
+                    else:
+                        resultText = resultText.replace(str(key),seperator + str(item) + seperator)
+                except Exception as e:
+                    self.env['runtime']['debug'].writeDebugOut("useCustomDict replace:'"  + key + "' with '" + item +"' failed:" + str(e),debug.debugLevel.ERROR, onAnyLevel=False)
         return resultText
     def usePunctuationDict(self, text, punctuationDict, punctuation):
         resultText = str(text)