GlossaryKit formats it for you. Add terms, write definitions and choose Markdown for a document with A–Z letter headings, HTML for a website, or plain text to paste into Word or Google Docs.
How words are picked
GlossaryKit splits your passage into sentences and words, ignoring case and possessive endings, so “Earth’s” and “earth” count as the same word. Words shorter than the minimum length are skipped, and about six hundred of the most frequent English words, along with their simple plural and past forms, are hidden. What remains is usually the subject vocabulary, the academic words and the names. A word that only ever appears with a capital letter in the middle of a sentence is shown in italics as a likely name, and you can hide those too.
Each candidate remembers the first sentence it appeared in. When you add it to the glossary, that sentence comes with it and the word is highlighted, so you can write a definition that matches the meaning used in the text rather than the first meaning in a dictionary.
Writing good glossary definitions
Keep each definition to one plain sentence, written for the reader of this document. Avoid using the term itself in its definition, and do not define a word with harder words. For learners, a definition plus the original example sentence works better than either alone. Use the worksheet to check understanding: matching tests the definitions, and fill in the blank tests the words in context.
Private by design
GlossaryKit has no accounts and no server-side storage. The passage you paste and the definitions you write stay in this browser and are saved in local storage on this device only.
Frequently asked questions
Where does a glossary go in a report?
Usually at the end, after the appendices. In a thesis it may follow the table of contents, so check your department’s guide.
How long should definitions be?
One sentence where possible. Define the term as it is used in your document rather than every dictionary sense.
Should I include example sentences?
They help learners. Tick Include example sentences to add each term’s original sentence under its definition.
Is GlossaryKit free?
Yes. The glossary maker, exports and worksheets are free with no account.
Is my glossary saved?
Only in this browser on this device, so it is still there next time. Nothing is uploaded.