diff --git a/digital_land/phase/harmonise.py b/digital_land/phase/harmonise.py
index 2f963c28..276309b4 100644
--- a/digital_land/phase/harmonise.py
+++ b/digital_land/phase/harmonise.py
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 from digital_land.datatype.point import PointDataType
 from digital_land.datatype.factory import datatype_factory
 import shapely.wkt
+import re
 import logging
 
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # Storing mandatory fields in dict for now until added to specification
@@ -202,7 +204,11 @@ def process(self, stream):
                     if value:
                         harmonised_values = []
                         for raw_value in self.category_values(value):
-                            normalised_value = raw_value.replace(" ", "-")
+                            normalised_value = re.sub(
+                                r"(\b\s\-+\s\b)|(\b\s\b)",
+                                "-",
+                                raw_value.replace(r"\s", "-"),
+                            )
                             matching_value = next(
                                 (
                                     v
diff --git a/tests/unit/phase/test_harmonise.py b/tests/unit/phase/test_harmonise.py
index a1d2a3b7..e9680bf9 100755
--- a/tests/unit/phase/test_harmonise.py
+++ b/tests/unit/phase/test_harmonise.py
@@ -321,12 +321,16 @@ def test_validate_categorical_field_dataset():
                 "reference": "7",
                 "document-type": "MAP-TO-VALID-VALUE",
             },
+            {
+                "reference": "8",
+                "document-type": "MAP - TO-VALID-VALUE",
+            },
         ],
     )
 
     output = list(h.process(reader))
 
-    assert len(output) == 7
+    assert len(output) == 8
     # check the fields are set in the output
     assert output[0]["row"]["document-type"] == "notice"
     assert output[1]["row"]["document-type"] == "other"
@@ -335,6 +339,7 @@ def test_validate_categorical_field_dataset():
     assert output[4]["row"]["document-type"] == "area-appraisal"
     assert output[5]["row"]["document-type"] == "MAP-TO-VALID-VALUE"
     assert output[6]["row"]["document-type"] == "MAP-TO-VALID-VALUE"
+    assert output[7]["row"]["document-type"] == "MAP-TO-VALID-VALUE"
 
     assert len(issues.rows) == 1
     # but we get an issue generated