According to the MLA handbook, the entries in your works cited list should be alphabetized. After completing your MLA paper and creating your works cited list, alphabetizing references in MLA format is the next step.
Thankfully, alphabetizing the works cited list is very easy because it follows the letter by letter method. (Also learn about alphabetizing references in APA and Chicago format)
Guidelines for Alphabetizing References
Let’s go through some guidelines when alphabetizing references, shall we?
List the entries alphabetically
You are expected to list each entry alphabetically by the author’s last name. The letters that appear before the comma that separates the last name from the first name should be considered during the arrangement. However, in the case where the last names of two or more entries are the same, then the letters after the comma, i.e. the first name should be considered.
In the course of alphabetizing, you are required to ignore spaces and other punctuation marks.
Example:
Alvin, Wyatt
Jim, Thomas
Rene, Defacto
Sydney, Margaret
Sydney, Jones
Thomas, McAlister
Vaugh, Zachary
Zed, Beth
Special characters and diacritical marks are to be ignored
When the author is unknown
When the author of the source is not known, you are expected to alphabetize the entry by the title.
Example:
“Algerian Costumes for Theatre Arts”
Alvin, Wyatt
“Art and Artists”
“Benton Ousted in the zoo.”
Jim, Thomas
Rene, Defacto
Sydney, Jones
Sydney, Margaret
Thomas, McAlister
Vaugh, Zachary
Zed, Beth
Multiple works by a single author
When a single author has multiple works, you are to alphabetize the list by title. Substitute the author’s name with three hyphens (—) in the subsequent entries followed by a period. However, you are not to place three hyphens in place of the author’s name when the author is listed in another work with multiple authors.
Example:
Sydney, Margaret. “ A Way To Reach The Sky”
—. “Mankind getting to the moon.”
—. “The outer space.”
Thomas, McAlister. “Effects of Hydrogen in The body.”
Thomas, McAlister. “Pollution and what it does to the body.”
Thomas, McAlister, et al. “Confirmation of the impact of CO2 on the lungs.”
Multiple works, coauthors
When you have multiple entries with the first listed author’s name the same, then you are to alphabetize with the last name of the second author listed.
Example:
Rene, Defacto, and Jim, Thomas
Rene, Defacto, and Vaugh, Zachary
However, if the coauthors are the same in the same other, you are to give the name in the first entry, then replace both their names with three hyphens followed by a period. Make sure to alphabetize them by title.
Example:
Rene, Defacto, and Jim, Thomas. “The imagination of females.”
—. “ The linguistics of sexual intercourse.”
Alphabetizing references by title
In the event when you will need to alphabetize the entries by title, you are to alphabetize letter by letter and ignore articles such as The, A, and And in any language they might be written.
Example:
The avengers
locomotives
Les Misrabelles
Taxi
Titles that start with a number
When you are alphabetizing your works cited list, you are expected to treat the numbers as though they are spelt out. For instance, 2 is two and 42 is forty-two
Example:
The avengers
locomotives
Les Misrabelles
1999 conceptualization of arts
Taxi
2+2=5
How To Alphabetize Your Works Cited List Using Microsoft Word
Highlight all the entries in the work cited list with the exclusion of the page’s header
Click on the “sort” icon in the paragraph ribbon on the Home tab
A popup window will open. Under sort by, click paragraph
Under Type, click on Text and then click ascending
Click on ok and Microsoft word will automatically sort your list.
Do you need help with editing an MLA style paper? Click here!
4