diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.C
index cfefae5c51..9ae65c9393 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.C
@@ -397,7 +397,11 @@ Foam::ITstream& Foam::dictionary::lookup
 }
 
 
-bool Foam::dictionary::substituteKeyword(const word& keyword, bool mergeEntry)
+bool Foam::dictionary::substituteKeyword
+(
+    const word& keyword,
+    bool mergeEntry
+)
 {
     if (keyword.size() < 2)
     {
@@ -457,10 +461,13 @@ bool Foam::dictionary::substituteScopedKeyword
 }
 
 
-bool Foam::dictionary::isDict(const word& keyword) const
+bool Foam::dictionary::isDict
+(
+    const word& keyword,
+    enum keyType::option matchOpt
+) const
 {
-    // Allow patterns, non-recursive
-    return csearch(keyword, keyType::REGEX).isDict();
+    return csearch(keyword, matchOpt).isDict();
 }
 
 
@@ -484,10 +491,13 @@ const Foam::dictionary* Foam::dictionary::findDict
 }
 
 
-const Foam::dictionary& Foam::dictionary::subDict(const word& keyword) const
+const Foam::dictionary& Foam::dictionary::subDict
+(
+    const word& keyword,
+    enum keyType::option matchOpt
+) const
 {
-    // Allow patterns, non-recursive
-    const const_searcher finder(csearch(keyword, keyType::REGEX));
+    const const_searcher finder(csearch(keyword, matchOpt));
 
     if (!finder.good())
     {
@@ -501,10 +511,13 @@ const Foam::dictionary& Foam::dictionary::subDict(const word& keyword) const
 }
 
 
-Foam::dictionary& Foam::dictionary::subDict(const word& keyword)
+Foam::dictionary& Foam::dictionary::subDict
+(
+    const word& keyword,
+    enum keyType::option matchOpt
+)
 {
-    // Allow patterns, non-recursive
-    searcher finder(search(keyword, keyType::REGEX));
+    searcher finder(search(keyword, matchOpt));
 
     if (!finder.good())
     {
@@ -521,11 +534,11 @@ Foam::dictionary& Foam::dictionary::subDict(const word& keyword)
 Foam::dictionary Foam::dictionary::subOrEmptyDict
 (
     const word& keyword,
+    enum keyType::option matchOpt,
     const bool mandatory
 ) const
 {
-    // Allow patterns, non-recursive
-    const const_searcher finder(csearch(keyword, keyType::REGEX));
+    const const_searcher finder(csearch(keyword, matchOpt));
 
     if (finder.isDict())
     {
@@ -556,11 +569,11 @@ Foam::dictionary Foam::dictionary::subOrEmptyDict
 
 const Foam::dictionary& Foam::dictionary::optionalSubDict
 (
-    const word& keyword
+    const word& keyword,
+    enum keyType::option matchOpt
 ) const
 {
-    // Allow patterns, non-recursive
-    const const_searcher finder(csearch(keyword, keyType::REGEX));
+    const const_searcher finder(csearch(keyword, matchOpt));
 
     if (finder.isDict())
     {
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.H
index e18ad24ad6..59599fb3e8 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/dictionary.H
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ public:
         //
         //  \param val the value to read into
         //  \param matchOpt the default search is non-recursive with patterns
-        //  \param mandatory the keyword is mandatory
+        //  \param mandatory the keyword is mandatory (default: true)
         //
         //  \return true if the entry was found.
         template<class T>
@@ -720,29 +720,45 @@ public:
 
         //- Check if entry is found and and is a sub-dictionary.
         //
-        //  Search type: non-recursive with patterns.
-        bool isDict(const word& keyword) const;
+        //  \param matchOpt the default search is non-recursive with patterns
+        //
+        //  \return true if the entry was found.
+        bool isDict
+        (
+            const word& keyword,
+            enum keyType::option matchOpt = keyType::REGEX
+        ) const;
 
         //- Find and return a sub-dictionary.
         //  Fatal if the entry does not exist or is not a sub-dictionary.
         //
-        //  Search type: non-recursive with patterns.
-        const dictionary& subDict(const word& keyword) const;
+        //  \param matchOpt the default search is non-recursive with patterns
+        const dictionary& subDict
+        (
+            const word& keyword,
+            enum keyType::option matchOpt = keyType::REGEX
+        ) const;
 
         //- Find and return a sub-dictionary for manipulation.
         //  Fatal if the entry does not exist or is not a sub-dictionary.
         //
-        //  Search type: non-recursive with patterns.
-        dictionary& subDict(const word& keyword);
+        //  \param matchOpt the default search is non-recursive with patterns
+        dictionary& subDict
+        (
+            const word& keyword,
+            enum keyType::option matchOpt = keyType::REGEX
+        );
 
         //- Find and return a sub-dictionary as a copy, otherwise return
         //- an empty dictionary.
         //  Warn if the entry exists but is not a sub-dictionary.
         //
-        //  Search type: non-recursive with patterns.
+        //  \param matchOpt the default search is non-recursive with patterns
+        //  \param mandatory the keyword is mandatory (default: false)
         dictionary subOrEmptyDict
         (
             const word& keyword,
+            enum keyType::option matchOpt = keyType::REGEX,
             const bool mandatory = false
         ) const;
 
@@ -750,7 +766,11 @@ public:
         //  Warn if the entry exists but is not a sub-dictionary.
         //
         //  Search type: non-recursive with patterns.
-        const dictionary& optionalSubDict(const word& keyword) const;
+        const dictionary& optionalSubDict
+        (
+            const word& keyword,
+            enum keyType::option matchOpt = keyType::REGEX
+        ) const;
 
         //- Return the table of contents
         wordList toc() const;
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/intermediate/clouds/Templates/KinematicCloud/KinematicCloud.C b/src/lagrangian/intermediate/clouds/Templates/KinematicCloud/KinematicCloud.C
index 684b803eb0..f926e24c9f 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/intermediate/clouds/Templates/KinematicCloud/KinematicCloud.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/intermediate/clouds/Templates/KinematicCloud/KinematicCloud.C
@@ -325,7 +325,12 @@ Foam::KinematicCloud<CloudType>::KinematicCloud
     constProps_(particleProperties_),
     subModelProperties_
     (
-        particleProperties_.subOrEmptyDict("subModels", solution_.active())
+        particleProperties_.subOrEmptyDict
+        (
+            "subModels",
+            keyType::REGEX,
+            solution_.active()
+        )
     ),
     rndGen_(Pstream::myProcNo()),
     cellOccupancyPtr_(),
@@ -342,6 +347,7 @@ Foam::KinematicCloud<CloudType>::KinematicCloud
         subModelProperties_.subOrEmptyDict
         (
             "particleForces",
+            keyType::REGEX,
             solution_.active()
         ),
         solution_.active()