Xubuntu 2.04 bash variable expansion

[MR ZenWiz]

I notice in 22.04 that when I start typing a command line and add in a
partial variable, then type tab, the variable is completed followed by
a space before variable globbing expansion, which usually only happens
after I complete the command..

Where I used to type 'cd $pdf<tab>', bash would expand the $pdf to
$pdfs and nothing else (before globbing during execution). Now it
expands the $pdf to $pdfs (which is correct) and an extra space.

How can I prevent this stupid space from appearing? It makes it harder
for me to use tab midline before adding '/<something>' at the end -
now the '/<something>' has a space separating it from the variable
into whose directory I want to do something with
'directory/<something>' without the space.

Or is this a new bash feature?

Mark