Alphabetical Order Rules for Numbers, Hyphens, and Articles
Most alphabetical lists are easy until they are not. A list of names is straightforward; a list that mixes numbers, hyphenated surnames, acronyms, and titles such as “The Great Gatsby” needs a rule before it needs a sort. Without a rule, two people can produce two defensible orders and neither can explain why.
The Alphabetical Order Tool sorts the list, but you still have to decide how the entries should be read. This guide covers the decisions that cause most of the arguments.
Quick answer
Choose letter-by-letter or word-by-word order and use it throughout. Treat numbers according to your style guide, usually by their written form or by their leading digit, and decide whether symbols are ignored or filed first. Ignore leading articles only when the guide says to, and record the rule so the next person can reproduce the list.
Letter-by-letter versus word-by-word
Letter-by-letter order ignores spaces and punctuation and compares the letters as one continuous string. “New York” becomes NEWYORK, so it files before “Newman” because the fourth letters are Y and M. Word-by-word order compares whole words first, so “New York” files before “Newman” because “New” comes before “Newman”.
Both are valid. The important thing is to pick one and say which you used. Library and bibliography styles often specify one; a simple contact list may not. If the list is short and the distinction never arises, the choice matters less, but the rule still belongs in the document.
Numbers and symbols
Numbers can be filed as written (“10 Downing Street” under T for Ten) or by their leading digit (under 1). The first is easier to read aloud; the second is easier to scan in a long list. A style guide may also ask for numbers to be grouped before the letters. Choose one method and apply it to every numeric entry.
Symbols such as @, #, and & are usually ignored in a simple list, but they can be filed first if they are part of a name or handle. Do not silently strip a symbol that carries meaning. If the list contains email addresses or usernames, say whether the symbol is part of the sort key.
Hyphens, apostrophes, and particles
In letter-by-letter order, a hyphen is usually ignored, so “Smith-Jones” sorts as SMITHJONES. In word-by-word order, it may be treated as a space, which puts “Smith Jones” before “Smith-Jones” or after it depending on the convention. Again, pick one and state it.
Apostrophes are usually ignored: “O’Brien” files as OBRIEN. Particles such as “de la”, “van”, and “bin” follow the convention of the language or the institution. English library practice often files “de la Cruz” under C, while Spanish-language practice may file it under D. There is no universal answer; there is only the rule you declare.
Leading articles in titles
Many lists of titles ignore a leading “The”, “A”, or “An” so that “The Great Gatsby” files under G. The article usually stays in the displayed title. This is a convention for titles, not for people’s names, and it should be applied only when the style guide asks for it.
If you ignore articles, say so at the top of the list. A reader who scans for T and finds The Great Gatsby under G needs to know why. If the list mixes titles and names, consider separate sections rather than one sort key.
Write the rule down
A sort is reproducible only if the rule is visible. A short note is enough: “Letter-by-letter, numbers by leading digit, leading articles ignored, particles filed as written.” Then sort with the Alphabetical Order Tool and spot-check the entries that sit near a boundary.
For the general method, read How to Alphabetize Names, Titles, and Lists Correctly. If you are sorting inside a spreadsheet or a word processor, see How to Sort a List in Excel, Google Sheets, and Word.
Common questions
Should numbers come before letters in an alphabetical list?
There is no universal rule. Many lists file numbers by their leading digit, which puts them before the letters; others spell the number out and file it under that word. A style guide may specify one method. Choose one, state it, and apply it consistently.
How do I alphabetise a hyphenated surname?
In letter-by-letter order, ignore the hyphen and compare the letters as a continuous string. In word-by-word order, treat the hyphen as a space or as a separate character according to your guide. The important part is to declare the method before sorting, because both results are defensible.
Should "The" be ignored when sorting titles?
Only if your style guide says to. Many lists of titles ignore a leading "The", "A", or "An" so that the title files under the next word, while the article remains in the displayed title. Do not apply the rule to people names or to titles where the article is part of the official name.