diff --git a/code/missioneditor/sexp_tree_model.cpp b/code/missioneditor/sexp_tree_model.cpp
index 4d409f126e9..a92f3d5ee20 100644
--- a/code/missioneditor/sexp_tree_model.cpp
+++ b/code/missioneditor/sexp_tree_model.cpp
@@ -952,9 +952,8 @@ SCP_string SexpTreeModel::match_closest_operator(const SCP_string& str, int node
 	opf = query_operator_argument_type(op, arg_num);
 
 	// find the best operator
-	int best = sexp_match_closest_operator(str, opf);
+	int best = sexp_match_closest_operator(str, opf, 10);
 	if (best < 0) {
-		Warning(LOCATION, "Unable to find an operator match for string '%s' and argument type %d", str.c_str(), opf);
 		return str;
 	}
 	return Operators[best].text;
diff --git a/code/parse/sexp.cpp b/code/parse/sexp.cpp
index 539fa03406c..9a90dcd8a81 100644
--- a/code/parse/sexp.cpp
+++ b/code/parse/sexp.cpp
@@ -35315,12 +35315,15 @@ bool sexp_query_type_match(int opf, int opr)
  * Finds the operator that is the best textual match for the input string, given the required OPF type.  For equal matches,
  * the alphabetically earliest operator is returned.
  * 
+ * min defaults to SCP_string::npos, when specified to another value, this function will not always return a match  
+ *
  * Note: Returns the operator index, not the operator value.
  */
-int sexp_match_closest_operator(const SCP_string &str, int opf)
+int sexp_match_closest_operator(const SCP_string &str, int opf, size_t min)
 {
+	// Cyborg - This bool setup helps with readability
+	bool return_any = (min == SCP_string::npos);
 	int best = -1;
-	size_t min = SCP_string::npos;
 
 	for (int op_index : Sorted_operator_indexes)
 	{
@@ -35330,7 +35333,7 @@ int sexp_match_closest_operator(const SCP_string &str, int opf)
 		if (sexp_query_type_match(opf, opr))
 		{
 			size_t cost = stringcost(op_text, str, Max_operator_length, stringcost_tolower_equal);
-			if (best < 0 || cost < min)
+			if (cost < min || (return_any && best == -1) )
 			{
 				min = cost;
 				best = op_index;
diff --git a/code/parse/sexp.h b/code/parse/sexp.h
index 68299082412..456bc8b767f 100644
--- a/code/parse/sexp.h
+++ b/code/parse/sexp.h
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ extern std::pair<int, sexp_src> query_referenced_in_sexp(sexp_ref_type type, con
 extern void stuff_sexp_text_string(SCP_string &dest, int node, int mode);
 extern int build_sexp_string(SCP_string &accumulator, int cur_node, int level, int mode);
 extern bool sexp_query_type_match(int opf, int opr);
-extern int sexp_match_closest_operator(const SCP_string &str, int opf);
+extern int sexp_match_closest_operator(const SCP_string &str, int opf, size_t min = SCP_string::npos);
 extern bool sexp_recoverable_error(int num);
 extern const char *sexp_error_message(int num);
 extern int count_free_sexp_nodes();
diff --git a/qtfred/src/ui/widgets/sexp_tree_view.cpp b/qtfred/src/ui/widgets/sexp_tree_view.cpp
index ee88baa1c63..10ea09b578c 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/ui/widgets/sexp_tree_view.cpp
+++ b/qtfred/src/ui/widgets/sexp_tree_view.cpp
@@ -260,6 +260,12 @@ sexp_tree_view::sexp_tree_view(QWidget* parent) : QTreeWidget(parent), _actions(
 	installShortcut(QKeySequence::Delete,
 		[](const SexpContextMenuState& s) { return s.can_delete; },
 		[this]() { deleteActionHandler(); });
+
+	// This keyboard shortcut does not need as much state checking because the helper 
+	// handles security checks and what to call, and any node should work here.
+	auto* shortcut = new QShortcut(QKeySequence(Qt::CTRL | Qt::Key_S), this);
+	shortcut->setContext(Qt::WidgetShortcut);
+	connect(shortcut, &QShortcut::activated, this, &sexp_tree_view::editActionHandlerHelper);
 }
 
 
@@ -1143,8 +1149,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<QMenu> sexp_tree_view::buildContextMenu(QTreeWidgetItem* h) {
 	popup_menu->addSeparator();
 
 	auto replace_op_menu = popup_menu->addMenu(tr("Replace Operator"));
-
+	
 	auto replace_data_menu = popup_menu->addMenu(tr("Replace Data"));
+
 	auto replace_number_act =
 		replace_data_menu->addAction(tr("Number"), this, [this]() { replaceNumberDataHandler(); });
 	replace_number_act->setEnabled(false);
@@ -1153,6 +1160,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<QMenu> sexp_tree_view::buildContextMenu(QTreeWidgetItem* h) {
 	replace_string_act->setEnabled(false);
 	replace_data_menu->addSeparator();
 
+	popup_menu->addAction(tr("Search for Replacement"), QKeySequence(Qt::CTRL | Qt::Key_S), this, [this]() { editActionHandlerHelper(); });
 	popup_menu->addSection("Variables");
 
 	auto modify_variable_act = popup_menu->addAction(tr("Add/Modify Variable"), this, [this]() {
@@ -1608,11 +1616,18 @@ void sexp_tree_view::startOperatorQuickSearch(QTreeWidgetItem* item, const QStri
 void sexp_tree_view::filterOperatorPopup(const QString& text)
 {
 	_opList->clear();
+	SCP_set<QString> found_list;
+
 	if (text.isEmpty()) {
 		_opList->addItems(_opAll);
 	} else {
 		for (const auto& s : _opAll) {
-			if (s.contains(text, Qt::CaseInsensitive))
+			if (s.startsWith(text, Qt::CaseInsensitive))
+				_opList->addItem(s);
+		}
+
+		for (const auto& s : _opAll) {
+			if (s.contains(text, Qt::CaseInsensitive) && _opList->findItems(s, Qt::MatchExactly).isEmpty())
 				_opList->addItem(s);
 		}
 	}
@@ -1987,13 +2002,16 @@ void sexp_tree_view::handleDoubleClick() {
 
 // Helper function for making sure that search and edit are initiated consistently 
 void sexp_tree_view::editActionHandlerHelper(){
-	item_index = get_node(currentItem());
-
-	if (_model.compute_context_menu_state().can_edit_text) {
-		editDataActionHandler();
-	} else {
-		openNodeEditor(currentItem());
+	auto item = currentItem();
+	
+	// Just to be extra safe, early exit when an item is not selected
+	if (_currently_editing || _opPopupActive || item == nullptr || !_interface) {
+		return;
 	}
+
+	item_index = get_node(item);
+	// No longer gated to just certain types.
+	openNodeEditor(currentItem());
 }
 
 // Public entry point for deleting the currently selected item. Simply delegates to deleteActionHandler().