diff --git a/packages/core/src/systems/en-US/parse.ts b/packages/core/src/systems/en-US/parse.ts
index 2fd055f..00d6fdc 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/systems/en-US/parse.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/systems/en-US/parse.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ const FINAL_TOKEN = '' as const;
 
 export const tokenize = (stringValue: string) => (
 	stringValue
+		.toLowerCase()
+		.trim()
+		.replace(/\s+/, ' ')
 		.replace(new RegExp(`${TENS_ONES_SEPARATOR}`, 'g'), ' ')
 		.split(' ')
 		.filter((maybeToken) => maybeToken.length > 0)