diff --git a/global.org b/global.org
index a5c7def..1936bd7 100644
--- a/global.org
+++ b/global.org
@@ -1082,13 +1082,14 @@
     #+END_SRC
     This inserts a char adding some whitespace padding whenever necessary
     #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
-    (defun insert-char-with-padding (arg)
+      (defun insert-char-with-padding (arg)
         (interactive "*P")
-        (if (string= (string (preceding-char)) " ") ()
-      (if (string= (string (preceding-char)) "\&") () (insert " ")))
+        (unless (string-match (string (preceding-char)) " \&")
+          (insert " "))
         (self-insert-command (prefix-numeric-value arg))
-        (if (string= (string (following-char)) " ") () (insert " ")) ;; decide what to do with the point
-      )
+        (unless (char-equal (following-char) ?\s)
+          (insert " "))) ;; decide what to do with the point
+    #+END_SRC
     #+END_SRC
     This inserts a plain reference (or a reference to an equation with
     prefix arg)