To put a works cited page in alphabetical order, sort every entry by the first significant word, which is usually the author’s last name. Ignore leading articles (“A,” “An,” “The”) when an entry starts with a title, and treat numbers as if they were spelled out. Below are the specific rules and shortcuts that cover every tricky scenario you’re likely to encounter.
The Basic Rule: Sort by the First Word
Each entry on your works cited page begins with whatever comes first in its citation, almost always the author’s last name. Alphabetize the entire list letter by letter using that last name. When two authors share the same last name, move to the first name to break the tie. When two entries share the same author entirely, sort by the title of the work instead.
If there is no author listed, the entry will start with the title of the source. Slot that entry into your alphabetical list based on the title’s first significant word, skipping any leading “A,” “An,” or “The.” A source titled “The Case for Reform” would be alphabetized under “C,” not “T.”
How to Handle Titles That Start With Numbers
When a title begins with a numeral, treat the number as though it were spelled out. A source called “12 Rules for Life” would be alphabetized as if it started with “Twelve,” placing it in the T section of your list. This rule applies whether the number appears in a title used as the first element of the entry or in a title you’re using to sort multiple works by the same author.
Multiple Works by the Same Author
When your works cited page includes more than one source by the exact same author, list those entries alphabetically by title (again ignoring “A,” “An,” and “The”). Write the author’s name in last name, first name format for the first entry only. For every additional entry by that author, replace the name with three hyphens followed by a period, then continue with the title as usual.
For example:
- Palmer, William J. Dickens and New Historicism. St. Martin’s, 1997.
- —. The Films of the Eighties: A Social History. Southern Illinois UP, 1993.
“Dickens” comes before “Films” alphabetically, so that entry appears first even though it was published later. The three hyphens signal to your reader that both works share the same author without repeating the name.
Organization and Group Authors
When the author is an organization, government agency, or other group rather than a person, alphabetize using the group’s name. Ignore a leading “The” just as you would with a title. “The Smithsonian Institution” would be filed under “S,” and “American Medical Association” under “A.” Beyond that, these entries follow the same letter-by-letter sorting as any other.
Sorting Automatically in Word or Google Docs
You can alphabetize your list by hand, but word processors can do the heavy lifting for you. The automatic sort gets you about 90% of the way there. You’ll still want to scan the result and manually adjust any entries where a leading article or spelled-out number should change the position.
Microsoft Word (Windows)
- Highlight your entire works cited list.
- Go to Home and click Sort.
- Set “Sort by” to Paragraphs and the type to Text.
- Choose Ascending (A to Z).
- Click OK.
Microsoft Word (Mac)
The steps are nearly identical. Select your list, click Sort on the Home tab, choose Paragraphs and Text, select Ascending, and click OK. Note that Word for the web does not support alphabetical sorting, so you’ll need the desktop app.
Google Docs
Google Docs has no built-in sort feature for regular text. Your best workaround is to copy the list into Google Sheets (one entry per row), use the Data menu to sort the column A to Z, then paste the sorted list back into your document. Alternatively, free online alphabetizing tools let you paste a list and instantly reorder it.
Quick-Reference Sorting Checklist
- Author’s last name is your primary sorting key.
- No author? Sort by the first significant word of the title.
- Leading “A,” “An,” or “The”? Skip it and sort by the next word.
- Title starts with a number? Spell the number out mentally and sort accordingly.
- Same author, multiple works? Sort those entries by title and use three hyphens in place of the repeated name.
- Group or corporate author? Alphabetize by the organization’s name, ignoring a leading “The.”
Once your list is sorted, do a final read-through to make sure hanging indents, punctuation, and spacing are consistent across every entry. A cleanly alphabetized works cited page signals to your reader (and your instructor) that you’ve handled your sources with care.