Wordle is a great web-based app that pulls together words and then automatically creates a visually pleasing word cloud. In and of itself it’s really “no biggie”, I mean who really cares about word clouds as a stand alone item? It’s only when you stop to consider how this little web-based application can potentially be used, that you can see its value. Moreover, it’s FREE, it doesn’t require registration, and it generates a product with great ease that can be used in a variety of ways (limited only by your imagination).

Word clouds, as most of us know them, have traditionally been used on web pages as a way to see what popular words have been assigned as search terms. The greater the popularity of the term, the larger the text is of that word. On this web page (to the right) you can see my website’s word cloud. This word cloud is unique to my website, is related to the content of my website, and uses a plugin designed for my website.

Wordle is an independent application that allows you to create word clouds on any topic. You choose the words and then decide which words should be weighted heavier than others. Relevance? Consider the idea that the mere organization of words by size, color, placement can impact and affect one’s interpretation of those words. That said, here are some ways you might find the creation of a Wordle word cloud useful to you.

  • Use a word cloud as a visual aid in a presentation
  • Display info collected on flipcharts during a meeting
  • Use it as an instructional aid (have students create study guides; show relationships to a specific word, or idea)
  • Use it as a brainstorming tool (words mentioned more than once become larger)
  • Tell someone how you feel in a new way
  • Use it as a graphic design (t-shirst, book cover, etc.)
  • Show recurring themes in a report or document by cutting and pasting its contents

If you’re still wondering about why you might use Wordle, or are just looking for new ideas, I suggest reviewing Wordle’s Gallery, which allows you to see word clouds created by other users. Below is sample I pulled from the gallery. I’m not sure of the designers intended use, but it sure seems like it might be a nice visual study guide. It’s titled “Body Systems” (its size has been reduced for use on this webpage).

Wordle Word Cloud Example

Wordle is very easy to use, but I do feel it would be worth anyone’s time to at least scan the contents of Wordle’s FAQ page. It answers questions about how to grab & reuse your word cloud for future use, and explains some of the subtle nuances of the application such as why numbers can’t be displayed and how to make a particular word larger than another.

My single piece of advice on using Wordle is to make sure that you have copied your words to your clipboard (or have them saved in another application) because once you have created your cloud, you can’t go back and edit it….you have to create a new one.