diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/primitives/strings/keyType/keyTypeIO.C b/src/OpenFOAM/primitives/strings/keyType/keyTypeIO.C
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..16194fd53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/primitives/strings/keyType/keyTypeIO.C
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright held by original author
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+    Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your
+    option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+    Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA
+
+Description
+    Istream constructor and IOstream operators for word.
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include "keyType.H"
+#include "IOstreams.H"
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+Foam::keyType::keyType(Istream& is)
+:
+    word()
+{
+    is >> *this;
+}
+
+
+Foam::Istream& Foam::operator>>(Istream& is, keyType& w)
+{
+    token t(is);
+
+    if (!t.good())
+    {
+        is.setBad();
+        return is;
+    }
+
+    if (t.isWord())
+    {
+        w = t.wordToken();
+    }
+    else if (t.isString())
+    {
+        // Assign from string. Sets regular expression.
+        w = t.stringToken();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        is.setBad();
+        FatalIOErrorIn("operator>>(Istream&, keyType&)", is)
+            << "wrong token type - expected word or string found "
+            << t.info()
+            << exit(FatalIOError);
+
+        return is;
+    }
+
+    // Check state of IOstream
+    is.check("Istream& operator>>(Istream&, keyType&)");
+
+    return is;
+}
+
+
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<(Ostream& os, const keyType& w)
+{
+    os.write(w);
+    os.check("Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const keyType&)");
+    return os;
+}
+
+
+// ************************************************************************* //