diff --git a/dictate.py b/dictate.py
index 1969226..3ad480b 100644
--- a/dictate.py
+++ b/dictate.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def quote(config, engine):
 		x = random.randint(0, len(quotes)-1)
 		quote = quotes[x]
 	print(f'{quote['quote']}\n\t\t\t - {quote['author']}')
-	dictation = quote['quote'].split(' ') 
+	dictation = filter(None, quote['quote'].split(' ')) # turn the string into a list of words, the filter function removes empty strings
 	# Dictate the quote
 	for word in dictation:
 		engine.say(word)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def file(config, engine):
 			print(line)
 		# Dictation loop
 		for line in lines:
-			for word in line.split(' '):
+			for word in filter(None, line.split(' ')): # the filter function removes empty strings
 				engine.say(word)
 				engine.runAndWait()
 				# Break between words as determined by the wpm