How to Alphabetize a Works Cited Page
Overview
Alphabetizing a Works Cited page involves arranging sources by the author's last name or the first word of the title. This guide covers how to sort entries letter-by-letter, handle sources without authors, and manage multiple works by the same person to ensure your bibliography meets MLA or APA academic standards.
Step 1: Identify the primary sorting element
Start by looking at the very first piece of information in each citation. For most sources, this is the author's last name. If the source has no author, the title of the work becomes the primary sorting element. Ignore any introductory credentials like 'Dr.' or 'Professor' and focus strictly on the surname. If you are using a corporate author, such as 'World Health Organization', use the first word of the organization's name as your sorting point.
Step 2: Arrange by author last name
Place your entries in alphabetical order from A to Z based on the author's surname. Use a letter-by-letter system. For example, 'Desmond' comes before 'De Smet' because 'e' comes before ' '. If two authors have the same last name, alphabetize by their first name or initial. Always ensure the last name is followed by a comma before the first name to maintain the correct structure for the sorting algorithm or manual review.
Step 3: Sort titles without authors
When a source lacks an author, move the title to the front of the citation. When alphabetizing these entries, ignore initial articles such as 'A', 'An', or 'The'. For instance, a book titled 'The Great Gatsby' would be alphabetized under 'G' rather than 'T'. This ensures that the most descriptive word in the title dictates the source's position in the list, making it easier for readers to locate.
Step 4: Handle multiple works by one author
If you cite multiple works by the same author, do not repeat the author's name for every entry in MLA style. Instead, list the first entry normally. For subsequent entries, use three hyphens followed by a period in place of the author's name. Alphabetize these specific entries by their titles. In APA style, you repeat the author's name but list the sources chronologically by the year of publication, starting with the earliest date.
Example: Alphabetized Works Cited List
Works Cited Davis, John. "Modern Architecture." Journal of Design, 2022. "The Impact of AI." Tech Today, 2023. [Sorted under 'I' for Impact] Miller, Sarah. Biology Basics. Science Press, 2019. ---. Advanced Genetics. Science Press, 2021. [Same author as Miller] Zimmerman, Alan. History of Rome. Heritage Books, 2015.
Common Alphabetizing Mistakes
Avoid these common errors when organizing your bibliography:
- Sorting by first names: Never alphabetize by the author's first name; always use the surname.
- Including 'The' in sorting: Do not place a source under 'T' just because the title starts with 'The'.
- Ignoring spaces: Remember that 'nothing precedes something'. A shorter name like 'Brown' comes before 'Browning'.
- Misplacing numbers: Do not simply guess where numeric titles go; check if your style guide requires spelling them out or placing them at the start.