Well, what you posted above, "
if ( < isin %ppp ) { /set %ppp $replace(%ppp,<,12<01) }" will NOT add spaces to it.
As Dave said if you're getting spaces inserted then your script is doing something else as well as what you posted.
Edit:
Just noticed this "
on further examination i am unsure if it just normal behavior when you apply the bold code to the text"
If you don't know if there actually is spaces, copy/paste the result and see
