MerlinSyntaxStudio

Guide

Merlin's Syntax Studio

Guide

Syntax reference

Syntax Example Effect
[XP child child] [TP John [T' T VP]] Basic bracketed node. The first item is the node label; following items are children.
(...) (TP John (VP ...)) Parentheses can also express tree structure and work like square brackets.
A|B|C T0|\[+PST\]|\[+3SG\] Multi-line node label. Literal square brackets must be entered as \[ and \].
_i, _j, _k John_i Visible italic subscript. Matching indices create movement links.
_z1, _z2 thought_z1 ... is_z2+phi Hidden movement indices. z1, z2, etc. are not shown, but each creates its own movement links.
t_i / trace_i t_i Trace labels for movement.
=word= =read=_k Strikethrough. The older -word- form is still accepted.
*word* *where*_i Italic text.
=*word*= =*read*=_k Italic text with strikethrough.
@word@ @he will go *where*@_i Outline text. Can be combined with italic text inside.
"text with spaces" "(head)" / "New York" Double quotes keep spaces, parentheses, or square brackets together as one literal label.
v0 / X0 v0|read_k, C0 Superscript 0. v0 displays italic v plus superscript 0.
X1, X2 DP1 Trailing non-zero digits become subscripts.
alpha, beta, gamma, phi alpha_i, phi+thought_z1 Greek letters. Also supports theta, lambda, omega, etc.
[^TP words] [^TP @he will go *where*@_i] Triangle / roof node. Text is centered under the triangle by default.
@empty [TP @empty T'] Creates an empty terminal: keeps the branch, but shows no text.
[] / [_i] / [_z2] [TP [] [_i] [_z2]] Creates empty nodes; visible or hidden indexed positions can receive a movement link.
@silent [C @silent] / [C|@silent] Hides the empty label completely and draws no branch to it.
Click label - Labels can be moved as a whole.
Click line / branch / triangle / movement link - Adjust it by hand. Selecting a branch reveals Hide branch; restore it later from the controls.
Extra drawing tools - Add free annotations and three-point arc curves. Double-click notes to edit text.

Examples

[CP Which-book_i [C' C0|did [TP John_j [T' T0|\[+PST\] [vP =John=_j [v' v0|read_k [VP =read=_k t_i]]]]]]]
[CP PRN|Where_i [C' C0|is_z2+phi [TP PRN|it [T' T0|=*is*=_z2 [vP v0|phi+thought_z1 [VP V0|thought_z1 [CP PRN|*where*_i [C' C0|that [^TP @he will go *where*@_i ]]]]]]]]]

Workspace notes

  • Each movement link can be shown or hidden and set to solid or dashed independently.
  • Use the buttons or a trackpad pinch gesture to zoom from 50% to 250%; scrollbars appear when needed.
  • Forest LaTeX stays structurally editable; visual TikZ preserves manual positions, hidden branches, per-link styles, and colors.
  • Guests can generate and export trees. Signed-in users can save the latest 20 generated records.
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