The \method{keys()} method of a dictionary object returns a list of all
the keys used in the dictionary, in arbitrary order (if you want it
sorted, just apply the \method{sort()} method to the list of keys). To
-check whether a single key is in the dictionary, use the
-\method{has_key()} method of the dictionary.
+check whether a single key is in the dictionary, either use the dictionary's
+\method{has_key()} method or the \keyword{in} keyword.
Here is a small example using a dictionary:
['guido', 'irv', 'jack']
>>> tel.has_key('guido')
True
+>>> 'guido' in tel
+True
\end{verbatim}
The \function{dict()} constructor builds dictionaries directly from
which are even better suited for the task of supplying key-values pairs to
the \function{dict()} constructor.
+When the keys are simple strings, it is sometimes easier to specify
+pairs using keyword arguments:
+
+\begin{verbatim}
+>>> dict(sape=4139, guido=4127, jack=4098)
+{'sape': 4139, 'jack': 4098, 'guido': 4127}
+\end{verbatim}
+
\section{Looping Techniques \label{loopidioms}}