diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/searches/queryString.js b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/searches/queryString.js
index 064f17f48..3f2f70d48 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/searches/queryString.js
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/searches/queryString.js
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ const matchBeginningOfWords = (str) => {
 }
 
 export function normalizeWhitespace(str) {
-  return str.replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim()
+  // delete the first character if it is !, @ or #
+  return str.replace(/^([!@#])/, '').replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim()
 }
 
 export function escapeSpecialCharacters(str) {