Type tool spacebar not working.

Recently whenever I have to use the the type tool, for some reason even though I'm in text edit mode (red box) when I try to add a space with the spacebar it exits type mode and starts playing the timeline. I've had to add an extra step of opening a text editor typing my text in there and then copying and pasting. Anyone got an answer to this???  This seems to be tied to the workspace somehow. If I reset my workspace back to the standard Editing and reset to saved layout. It works again but as soon as I customize the program panel's position, say move to a secondary monitor or even just a different panel location on the same screen, it happens again.

I have already trashed preferences several times.