Key Words in Context

Under construction.

The KWIC page helps you find and examine every occurrence of a word (the “node word”) in your corpus, along with the words that appear immediately before and after it. This is a classic tool for exploring how words are used in different contexts.

What is KWIC?

Important

A KWIC table (Key Word in Context) shows each instance of a search word in your corpus, with a window of surrounding words on either side. This lets you quickly see patterns, collocations, and typical uses.

What You Can Do

  • Search for a node word and see every occurrence in your corpus, with context
  • Choose how to match the node word (exact, starts with, ends with, contains)
  • Make your search case sensitive or insensitive
  • Download the KWIC table as an Excel file
  • Create new KWIC tables for different node words

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Enter a Node Word

  • In the sidebar, enter the word you want to search for (the “node word”).
  • The search will find all instances of this word in your corpus.

2. Choose Search Mode

  • Fixed: Exact match (e.g., “run” finds only “run”).
  • Starts with: Finds words that start with your node word (e.g., “run” finds “running”, “runner”).
  • Ends with: Finds words that end with your node word (e.g., “ing” finds “running”, “sing”).
  • Contains: Finds words that contain your node word anywhere.

3. Case Sensitivity

  • Use the checkbox to make your search case sensitive (e.g., “Run” vs “run”).

4. Generate the KWIC Table

  • Click the KWIC button to generate your table.
  • If your corpus is not loaded, you’ll see a warning.

5. View and Download Results

  • The KWIC table will display all matches, with the node word centered and context on either side.
  • Use the Download to Excel? toggle in the sidebar to enable download.
  • Click Download to Excel to save your results.

6. Create a New KWIC Table

  • Use the Create New KWIC Table button in the sidebar to reset and search for a different node word.

Understanding the Table

  • Each row shows a match for your node word, with columns for the left context, the node word, and the right context.
  • This format makes it easy to spot patterns in how the word is used.

Tips for New Users

Tip
  • Try searching for both common and rare words to see how their contexts differ.
  • Use “starts with” or “ends with” to explore word families or morphological patterns.
  • Download your results often so you can experiment without losing your work.

If You Get Stuck

Important
  • Make sure you have loaded and processed a target corpus.
  • If you see warnings, check your node word and search settings.
  • Use the reset button on the Manage Corpus Data page if you need to start over.