def split_text_by_delims(text):
    """Splits the string by special characters specified.

    Filters out empty strings (as a result of the splitting) before
    returning.
    """

    for ch in [":", ".", "/", "'", "\"",
               "(", ")", "\\", "[", "]", ",", "\t", "\n", "*", "-"]:
        text = text.replace(ch, " ")
    return text.split(" ")