Regex Javascript find /replace

Question

I am trying to add a space after every period (full stop). But not if it is a decimal point or an abbreviation.Using javascript I have used the following regex:

text.replace(/([^.]*?[a-zA-Z][^.0-9]*?)\.([\S][^.]*?)|([^.]*?[0-9])\.([^\s0-9][^.]*?)/g, "$1. $2")

Sample string:

An apple a day.keeps the doctor away.apple 3.0 is simply amazing.Iphone 5.is not bad either.

Output:

An apple a day. keeps the doctor away. apple 3.0 is simply amazing. I. s not bad either.

The phone disappears for some weird reason. I used regexpal.com and it is able to find the portions as expected. There is an issue with the replacement.

Also, I would appreciate suggestions for some great find and replace debuggers.

How do you intend to tell the difference between the end of a sentence and dot-syntax code (foo.bar) or email addresses ([email protected]), etc.? Regex won't help you with that. — Robusto
– Robusto, Commented Jan 8, 2014 at 20:59

Explosion Pills · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-08 20:59:44Z

2

You haven't escaped the periods, so some characters are being stripped out. You are also leaving off the $3 and $4. Since they fully alternate each other, the following should work (and will work with your example):

replace(/([^.]?[a-zA-Z][^.0-9]?)\.([\S][^.]?)|([^.]?[0-9])\.([^\s0-9][^.]*?)/g,
    "$1$3. $2$4")

answered Jan 8, 2014 at 20:59

Explosion Pills

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