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How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word

Alphabetizing lists is a good skill to learn in word, especially if you find yourself dealing with directories and lists often. Luckily, the sorting process is quite simple once you learn how to access it. Follow this guide to learn how...
Method 1 of 2:

Using Word 2007/2010/2013

  1. How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 1How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 1
    Open the file that you want to sort. You can also copy and paste the list of words that you want to sort into a document. In order to alphabetize the words, they need to be formatted as a list, with each entry on its own line.
  2. How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 2How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 2
    Select the text that you want to sort. If your list is the only part of your document, you don't need to highlight anything. If you want to alphabetize a list that is part of a larger document, highlight the section that you want to sort.
  3. How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 3How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 3
    Click the Home tab. In the Paragraph section of the Home tab, click the Sort button. The icon is an 'A' above a 'Z' with an arrow pointing down. This will open the Sort Text dialogue box.[1]
  4. How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 4How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 4
    Choose your order. By default, the sorting will happen by paragraph. Click the Ascending or Descending button to select which order the list should appear. Ascending will put the list in alphabetical order, and Descending will put the list in reverse alphabetical order.
    1. If you want to sort by the second word for each entry (for example, by last name in a FIRST, LAST format), click the Options button in the Sort Text window. In the 'Separate fields by' section, select Other and enter a single space. Press OK, and then select Word 2 in the Sort By menu. Press OK to sort the list.[2]
Method 2 of 2:

Using Word 2003 and Earlier

  1. How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 5How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 5
    Open the file that you want to sort. You can also copy and paste the list of words that you want to sort into a document. In order to alphabetize the words, they need to be formatted as a list, with each entry on its own line.
  2. How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 6How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 6
    Select the text that you want to sort. If your list is the only part of your document, you don't need to highlight anything. If you want to alphabetize a list that is part of a larger document, highlight the section that you want to sort.
  3. How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 7How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 7
    Click the Table menu. Select Sort. This will open the Sort Text dialogue box.
  4. How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 8How to Alphabetize in Microsoft Word Picture 8
    Choose your order. By default, the sorting will happen by paragraph. Click the Ascending or Descending button to select which order the list should appear. Ascending will put the list in alphabetical order, and Descending will put the list in reverse alphabetical order.[3]
    1. If you want to sort by the second word for each entry (for example, by last name in a FIRST, LAST format), click the Options button in the Sort Text window. In the 'Separate fields by' section, select Other and enter a single space. Press OK, and then select Word 2 in the Sort By menu. Press OK to sort the list.
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