diff --git a/novelwriter/config.py b/novelwriter/config.py
index 93d8fb02..df820029 100644
--- a/novelwriter/config.py
+++ b/novelwriter/config.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ class Config:
         self.doJustify       = False    # Justify text
         self.showTabsNSpaces = False    # Show tabs and spaces in editor
         self.showLineEndings = False    # Show line endings in editor
-        self.showMultiSpaces = True     # Highlight multiple spaces in the text
+        self.showMultiSpaces = False    # Highlight multiple spaces in the text
 
         self.doReplace       = True     # Enable auto-replace as you type
         self.doReplaceSQuote = True     # Smart single quotes
diff --git a/novelwriter/dialogs/preferences.py b/novelwriter/dialogs/preferences.py
index f13efb40..7f51dd38 100644
--- a/novelwriter/dialogs/preferences.py
+++ b/novelwriter/dialogs/preferences.py
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ class GuiPreferences(NDialog):
         self.showMultiSpaces = NSwitch(self)
         self.showMultiSpaces.setChecked(CONFIG.showMultiSpaces)
         self.mainForm.addRow(
-            self.tr("Highlight multiple or trailing spaces"), self.showMultiSpaces,
+            self.tr("Highlight multiple spaces between words"), self.showMultiSpaces,
             self.tr("Applies to the document editor only.")
         )
 
diff --git a/novelwriter/gui/dochighlight.py b/novelwriter/gui/dochighlight.py
index 114acdb3..60c28d4b 100644
--- a/novelwriter/gui/dochighlight.py
+++ b/novelwriter/gui/dochighlight.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ class GuiDocHighlighter(QSyntaxHighlighter):
 
         # Multiple or Trailing Spaces
         if CONFIG.showMultiSpaces:
-            rxRule = re.compile(r"[ ]{2,}|[ ]*$", re.UNICODE)
+            rxRule = re.compile(r"\s{2,}")
             hlRule = {
                 0: self._hStyles["mspaces"],
             }
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ class GuiDocHighlighter(QSyntaxHighlighter):
             self._cmnRules.append((rxRule, hlRule))
 
         # Non-Breaking Spaces
-        rxRule = re.compile(f"[{nwUnicode.U_NBSP}{nwUnicode.U_THNBSP}]+", re.UNICODE)
+        rxRule = re.compile(f"[{nwUnicode.U_NBSP}{nwUnicode.U_THNBSP}]+")
         hlRule = {
             0: self._hStyles["nobreak"],
         }
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ class GuiDocHighlighter(QSyntaxHighlighter):
         self._cmnRules.append((rxRule, hlRule))
 
         # Alignment Tags
-        rxRule = re.compile(r"(^>{1,2}|<{1,2}$)", re.UNICODE)
+        rxRule = re.compile(r"(^>{1,2}|<{1,2}$)")
         hlRule = {
             1: self._hStyles["markup"],
         }
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ class GuiDocHighlighter(QSyntaxHighlighter):
         self._txtRules.append((rxRule, hlRule))
 
         # Auto-Replace Tags
-        rxRule = re.compile(r"<(\S+?)>", re.UNICODE)
+        rxRule = re.compile(r"<(\S+?)>")
         hlRule = {
             0: self._hStyles["replace"],
         }
diff --git a/tests/reference/baseConfig_novelwriter.conf b/tests/reference/baseConfig_novelwriter.conf
index c3a45e6a..7a281145 100644
--- a/tests/reference/baseConfig_novelwriter.conf
+++ b/tests/reference/baseConfig_novelwriter.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [Meta]
-timestamp = 2025-06-14 17:03:01
+timestamp = 2025-08-24 15:30:16
 
 [Main]
 font = 
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ fmtpadthin = False
 spellcheck = en
 showtabsnspaces = False
 showlineendings = False
-showmultispaces = True
+showmultispaces = False
 incnoteswcount = True
 showfullpath = True
 dialogstyle = 2
diff --git a/tests/test_dialogs/test_dlg_preferences.py b/tests/test_dialogs/test_dlg_preferences.py
index bf1ee362..03b23a01 100644
--- a/tests/test_dialogs/test_dlg_preferences.py
+++ b/tests/test_dialogs/test_dlg_preferences.py
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ def testDlgPreferences_Settings(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, fncPath, tstPaths):
     prefs.altDialogOpen.setText("%")  # Symbol also tests for #2455
     prefs.altDialogClose.setText("%")  # Symbol also tests for #2455
     prefs.highlightEmph.setChecked(False)
-    prefs.showMultiSpaces.setChecked(False)
+    prefs.showMultiSpaces.setChecked(True)
 
     prefs._insertDialogLineSymbol(nwUnicode.U_ENDASH)
     assert prefs.dialogLine.text() == f"{nwUnicode.U_ENDASH} {nwUnicode.U_EMDASH}"
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ def testDlgPreferences_Settings(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, fncPath, tstPaths):
     assert CONFIG.altDialogOpen == ""
     assert CONFIG.altDialogClose == ""
     assert CONFIG.highlightEmph is True
-    assert CONFIG.showMultiSpaces is True
+    assert CONFIG.showMultiSpaces is False
 
     # Text Automation
     prefs.doReplaceSQuote.setChecked(False)
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ def testDlgPreferences_Settings(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, fncPath, tstPaths):
     assert CONFIG.altDialogOpen == "%"
     assert CONFIG.altDialogClose == "%"
     assert CONFIG.highlightEmph is False
-    assert CONFIG.showMultiSpaces is False
+    assert CONFIG.showMultiSpaces is True
 
     # Text Automation
     assert CONFIG.doReplace is False