diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d66804a7a..d3e950869 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -144,7 +144,15 @@ which means you can modify it, redistribute it or use it however you like.
                                      functionality is not available at the given
                                      service), but who also have a description,
                                      use --match-filter "like_count > 100 &
-                                     dislike_count <? 50 & description" .
+                                     dislike_count <? 50 & description". If
+                                     strings containing spaces need to be
+                                     compared, there is no need to surround them
+                                     with delimiters like quotes inside the
+                                     match-filter string. The whole string will
+                                     be evaluated. For example, the youtube
+                                     playlist 'Liked videos' will not be
+                                     downloaded with the following filter :
+                                     --match-filter "playlist_title != Liked videos"
     --no-playlist                    Download only the video, if the URL refers
                                      to a video and a playlist.
     --yes-playlist                   Download the playlist, if the URL refers to
diff --git a/test/test_utils.py b/test/test_utils.py
index 97587ad2f..33b496573 100644
--- a/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/test/test_utils.py
@@ -694,6 +694,25 @@ ffmpeg version 2.4.4 Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the FFmpeg ...'''), '2.4.4')
         self.assertFalse(match_str(
             'like_count > 100 & dislike_count <? 50 & description',
             {'like_count': 190, 'dislike_count': 10}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str(
+            'playlist_title != some playlist with space',
+            {'playlist_title': 'playlist'}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str(
+            'playlist_title != some playlist with space',
+            {'playlist_title': 'some playlist with space'}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str(
+            'playlist_title != some_playlist_without_space',
+            {'playlist_title': 'some_playlist_without_space'}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str(
+            'playlist_title != some playlist with space & playlist_title != some_playlist',
+            {'playlist_title': 'playlist'}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str(
+            'playlist_title != some playlist with space & playlist_title != some_playlist',
+            {'playlist_title': 'some_playlist'}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str(
+            'playlist_title != some-playlist_name & playlist_title != some_playlist-name',
+            {'playlist_title': 'some_playlist'}))
+
 
     def test_parse_dfxp_time_expr(self):
         self.assertEqual(parse_dfxp_time_expr(None), None)
diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index 606977c58..fd32d904d 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -1962,7 +1962,7 @@ def _match_one(filter_part, dct):
         \s*(?P<op>%s)(?P<none_inclusive>\s*\?)?\s*
         (?:
             (?P<intval>[0-9.]+(?:[kKmMgGtTpPeEzZyY]i?[Bb]?)?)|
-            (?P<strval>(?![0-9.])[a-z0-9A-Z]*)
+            (?P<strval>(?![0-9.])[a-z0-9A-Z\s_-]*)
         )
         \s*$
         ''' % '|'.join(map(re.escape, COMPARISON_OPERATORS.keys())))