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Alphabetizer
Sort a list alphabetically, with the options a reference list needs and a plain sorter does not have.
Alphabetizer
Sorting a works cited or reference list
APA, MLA, and Chicago all sort entries by the first element, and all three ignore a leading A, An, or The when that element is a title. A generic sorter files The Great Gatsby under T, which is wrong in every one of them.
Switch on "ignore leading A/An/The" and the list sorts the way a marker expects. Leading quotation marks and brackets are also skipped, so an entry beginning with a quoted article title lands in the right place.
What each option does
The defaults suit most lists: one item per line, capitals ignored, order preserved for identical entries.
- Split by line breaks, commas, or spaces, depending on how the list was pasted.
- Ignore capitals so Apple and apple sort together rather than in separate blocks.
- Remove duplicates, which reports how many were dropped.
- Number the list, useful for a bibliography in a numbered style.
- Z to A for reverse order.
Numbers sort the way people expect
Plain alphabetical sorting puts item10 before item2, because it compares character by character. This tool compares embedded numbers as numbers, so item2 comes first. That is almost always what was intended for a list of chapters, figures, or sources numbered in sequence.
Nothing is uploaded
The sorting runs in your browser. Reading lists and bibliographies are not sent anywhere, and the tool keeps working with no connection once the page has loaded.
Related tools and guides
- Citation generator Build the entries first
- Annotated bibliography guide What goes in each entry
- Word counter Check the length
Frequently asked questions
How do I alphabetize a works cited list?
Paste one entry per line and switch on the option to ignore a leading A, An, or The. All three major styles sort by the first element with the article disregarded.
Does it sort by last name?
It sorts by whatever begins each line, so paste entries that already start with the surname, as a reference list does.
Can it remove duplicates?
Yes, and it reports how many were removed so you can check the drop was expected.
Why does item2 come before item10?
Numbers inside entries are compared as numbers rather than characters, which is what a numbered list normally needs.
Can I sort a comma-separated list?
Yes. Change the split option to commas and the result comes back comma separated.
Is my list sent to a server?
No. The sorting happens in your browser and nothing is transmitted.
Does it handle accented characters?
Yes. Sorting uses your locale's rules, so accented letters file next to their base letter rather than at the end.