a = re.sub ( '\\\\- ', '-', a) # unless \-
a = re.sub ( '~', '_', a) # ~ to space('_')
a = re.sub ( '\*', '_ ', a) # * to to space
a = re.sub ( '\\\\- ', '-', a) # unless \-
a = re.sub ( '~', '_', a) # ~ to space('_')
a = re.sub ( '\*', '_ ', a) # * to to space