python - Replacing characters in a regex -

using python, have following strings:

['taxes.............................       .7        21.4    (6.2)','regulatory , other matters..................$   39.9        61.5        41.1','producer contract reformation cost recoveries............................   dash        26.3        28.3'] 

i need replace each of dots space, not periods in numbers. result should this:

['taxes                                    .7        21.4    (6.2)','regulatory , other matters                  $   39.9        61.5        41.1','producer contract reformation cost recoveries                               dash        26.3        28.3'] 

i've tried following:

dots=re.compile('(\.{2,})(\s*?[\d\(\$]|\s*?dash|\s*.)') newlist=[] each in list:     newline=dots.sub(r'\2'.replace('.',' '),each)     newdoc.append(newline) 

but, code doesn't retain white space. thanks!

use negative lookarounds in re.sub

>>> import re >>> s = ['taxes.............................       .7        21.4    (6.2)','regulatory , other matters..................$   39.9        61.5        41.1','producer contract reformation cost recoveries............................   dash        26.3        28.3'] >>> [re.sub(r'(?<!\d)\.(?!\d)', ' ', i) in s] ['taxes                                    .7        21.4    (6.2)', 'regulatory , other matters                  $   39.9        61.5        41.1', 'producer contract reformation cost recoveries                               dash        26.3        28.3']