diff --git a/novelwriter/gui/doceditor.py b/novelwriter/gui/doceditor.py
index 846b6317..1c900ce7 100644
--- a/novelwriter/gui/doceditor.py
+++ b/novelwriter/gui/doceditor.py
@@ -2278,11 +2278,15 @@ class TextAutoReplace:
         Returns True if anything was changed.
         """
         pos = cursor.positionInBlock()
-        length = len(text)
+        apos = cursor.position()
+        block = cursor.block()
+        length = block.length() - 1
         if length < 1 or pos-1 > length:
             return False
 
-        delete, insert = self._determine(text, pos)
+        cursor.movePosition(QtMoveLeft, QtKeepAnchor, min(4, pos))
+        last = cursor.selectedText()
+        delete, insert = self._determine(last, pos)
         if insert == "":
             return False
 
@@ -2290,8 +2294,8 @@ class TextAutoReplace:
         if self._doPadBefore and check in self._padBefore:
             if not (check == ":" and length > 1 and text[0] == "@"):
                 delete = max(delete, 1)
-                chkPos = pos - delete - 1
-                if chkPos >= 0 and text[chkPos].isspace():
+                chkPos = len(last) - delete - 1
+                if chkPos >= 0 and last[chkPos].isspace():
                     # Strip existing space before inserting a new (#1061)
                     delete += 1
                 insert = self._padChar + insert
@@ -2302,6 +2306,7 @@ class TextAutoReplace:
                 insert = insert + self._padChar
 
         if delete > 0:
+            cursor.setPosition(apos)
             cursor.movePosition(QtMoveLeft, QtKeepAnchor, delete)
             cursor.insertText(insert)
             return True
@@ -2310,10 +2315,10 @@ class TextAutoReplace:
 
     def _determine(self, text: str, pos: int) -> tuple[int, str]:
         """Determine what to replace, if anything."""
-        t1 = text[pos-1:pos]
-        t2 = text[pos-2:pos]
-        t3 = text[pos-3:pos]
-        t4 = text[pos-4:pos]
+        t1 = text[-1:]
+        t2 = text[-2:]
+        t3 = text[-3:]
+        t4 = text[-4:]
         if t1 == "":
             # Return early if there is nothing to check
             return 0, ""