diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
index 615fc52df..cfc3e2e6b 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
@@ -688,8 +688,10 @@ amountp' s =
 mamountp' :: String -> MixedAmount
 mamountp' = Mixed . (:[]) . amountp'
 
+-- | Parse a minus or plus sign followed by zero or more spaces,
+-- or nothing, returning a function that negates or does nothing.
 signp :: Num a => TextParser m (a -> a)
-signp = char '-' *> pure negate <|> char '+' *> pure id <|> pure id
+signp = ((char '-' *> pure negate <|> char '+' *> pure id) <* many spacenonewline) <|> pure id
 
 multiplierp :: TextParser m Bool
 multiplierp = option False $ char '*' *> pure True
diff --git a/hledger-lib/hledger_journal.m4.md b/hledger-lib/hledger_journal.m4.md
index 8f0fb143c..7ffaefe6a 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/hledger_journal.m4.md
+++ b/hledger-lib/hledger_journal.m4.md
@@ -421,12 +421,18 @@ must be enclosed in double quotes:
 
     3 "no. 42 green apples"
 
-Amounts can be negative. The minus sign can be written before or after
-a left-side commodity symbol:
+Amounts can be preceded by a minus sign (or a plus sign, though plus is the default),
+The sign can be written before or after a left-side commodity symbol:
 
     -$1
     $-1
 
+One or more spaces between the sign and the number are acceptable
+when parsing (but they won't be displayed in output):
+
+    + $1
+    $-      1
+
 Scientific E notation is allowed:
 
     1E-6