Alphabetical Order Rules
Putting things in alphabetical order seems straightforward — until you hit numbers, hyphens, articles, or names with prefixes. Here are the rules with examples.
The basic rule: letter by letter
Compare the first letter of each item. If the first letters are the same, compare the second letter. Continue until you find a difference. This is called letter-by-letter sorting.
Example:
apple ← a-p-p-l-e
apricot ← a-p-r... (r comes after p, so apricot comes after apple)
arbor ← a-r... (r comes after p, so arbor comes after apricot)
Numbers in alphabetical lists
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Numbers before letters (most systems) | 1 Apple → 2 Banana → Apple → Banana |
| Numbers sorted numerically, not alphabetically | 2, 10, 20 (not 10, 2, 20) |
| Spelled-out numbers sort alphabetically | Eleven → Five → One → Ten → Two |
Articles: The, A, An
In library and bibliography contexts, leading articles are ignored for sorting:
- “The Beatles” files under B, not T
- “A Brief History of Time” files under B, not A
- “An Inspector Calls” files under I, not A
In everyday contact lists and spreadsheets, sort as written (The Beatles → T section).
Spaces and punctuation
- Spaces first: “New York” comes before “Newark” because the space after “New” sorts before any letter
- Hyphens: Chicago style ignores hyphens (“co-op” = “coop”). Most other systems treat hyphens as spaces
- Apostrophes: Usually ignored — “O'Brien” sorts as “OBrien”
Word-by-word vs letter-by-letter
There are two main sorting systems:
- Letter-by-letter: Ignores spaces. “Newark” comes before “New York” (N-E-W-A vs N-E-W-space)
- Word-by-word: Sorts each word separately. “New York” comes before “Newark” (NEW space vs NEWA)
Encyclopedias and dictionaries often use letter-by-letter. Indexes and library catalogs often use word-by-word. The Alphabetical Sorter uses standard locale-aware sorting which generally follows letter-by-letter.
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Use Alphabetical Sorter →Frequently asked questions
What is alphabetical order?
Alphabetical order arranges words, names or items according to the sequence of letters in the alphabet (A, B, C... X, Y, Z). Items are sorted by their first letter, then by the second letter if the first is the same, then by the third letter, and so on. It is the most widely used ordering system for lists, indexes, bibliographies and directories.
How do you sort items that start with the same letter?
When two or more items start with the same letter, sort by the second letter. If those are also the same, sort by the third letter, and so on. For example: 'apple', 'apricot', 'arbor' — 'apple' comes before 'apricot' because 'pp' comes before 'pr', and 'apricot' comes before 'arbor' because 'p' comes before 'r'.
Do numbers come before or after letters in alphabetical order?
In most style guides and filing systems, numbers come before letters (0–9 before A–Z). So '1 Apple Street' would come before 'Apple Lane'. However, if numbers are spelled out ('One Apple Street'), they sort alphabetically among words starting with O.
How do you alphabetize names with articles (The, A, An)?
In library and bibliographic contexts, leading articles (The, A, An) are typically ignored for sorting. 'The Beatles' files under B, not T. 'A Farewell to Arms' files under F, not A. In everyday list sorting (like contact lists), the article is usually included and the item files under T or A as written.
How do you alphabetize hyphenated names or words?
Different style guides handle hyphens differently. Chicago Manual of Style treats hyphens as nothing (as if the hyphen is not there): 'co-author' sorts as 'coauthor'. APA and many filing systems treat the hyphen as a space and sort each part separately. For most practical purposes, ignoring the hyphen and treating the full string as one word is consistent.
How do you alphabetize last names with prefixes (van, de, O')?
It depends on the person's preference and the style guide. Many people with 'van' or 'de' surnames file under the main name: 'van Gogh' files under G. Others file under V. 'O'Brien' is typically filed under O (treating the apostrophe as part of the name). When in doubt, use the person's own preference or follow the style guide for your field.