diff --git a/lib/text_sentinel.rb b/lib/text_sentinel.rb
index e7c75f64dc8..230791e62df 100644
--- a/lib/text_sentinel.rb
+++ b/lib/text_sentinel.rb
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class TextSentinel
 
   def seems_unpretentious?
     # Don't allow super long words if there is a word length maximum
-    @opts[:max_word_length].blank? || (@text.split(/\W/).map(&:size).max <= @opts[:max_word_length])
+    @opts[:max_word_length].blank? || @text.split(/\s/).map(&:size).max <= @opts[:max_word_length]
   end