diff --git a/hangman.py b/hangman.py
index 3dcd298..72f0f6e 100644
--- a/hangman.py
+++ b/hangman.py
@@ -90,10 +90,9 @@ def print_likely_chars(remaining_letters,let_freq):
 
 negatives = set()
 def iterate(word_list,let_freq):
-    entered_word = input(PROMPT)
+    entered_word = re.sub(r'[^a-z\.]','',input(PROMPT))
     negative_letters = re.findall('[a-z]',input(NEG_PROMPT))
     negatives.update(negative_letters)
-    entered_word = entered_word.replace(' ','')
     entered_letters = set(letter for letter in entered_word.replace('.',''))
     remaining_letters = set(filter(lambda letter: letter in ALPHABET,let_freq.keys())) - entered_letters - negatives
     regex = entered_word.replace('.','[{}]'.format(''.join(remaining_letters))) + '$'