English IX - Skills
Alphabetization
The moment a person is born, the learning process begins. Sound by sound, letter by
letter, word by word, your brain starts organizing your thoughts and experiences until
ultimately you can communicate with others.
We live in a relatively organized world. Could we receive the benefit from information if
we did not organize it? Could you have memorized the alphabet if there was no
organization to it? The answer to each of these questions is obvious. No!
Let's discuss the commonly used method of
organization known as alphabetization.
Alphabetization
Virtually all reference materials are
organized according to alphabetical order.
Of course, the reference material that
comes to mind first is the dictionary in
which words appear in alphabetical order.
A dictionary contains information about
words that will help you to improve
your reading and writing skills.
English IX - Skills
An encyclopedia is a resource that
contains basic information about various
subjects. Entries in encyclopedias are
arranged alphabetically by key terms or
words.
Can you imagine trying to locate a
number in a telephone directory if the
names were not alphabetized. Could you
research a topic in an encyclopedia if the
information was not listed alphabetically?
English IX - Skills
Alphabetization
Another reference material that utilizes
alphabetization is a thesaurus which is a
dictionary of synonyms and antonyms.
A thesaurus can be a great help to you as
you work to avoid common, overused
words.
Nearly all reference sources provide an
index that lists the contents covered in
that source.
Not surprisingly, those content lists are
organized alphabetically.
Generally, libraries use card catalogs to
list books, magazines, videos, and any
other materials available within the
collection.
Card catalogs are arranged alphabetically
and list available materials in three
different ways:
- the title of the material
- the author's last name
- the subject
Alphabetization
Libraries provide computer catalogs to
help patrons locate available materials.
Most libraries constantly update their
computer resources.
Generally, the opening screen of a
computer catalog will ask you to narrow
your search to a title, the author's name,
or the subject. The computer will
generate an alphabetized list of possible
matches.
Telephone directories, atlases, and
periodicals are also organized
alphabetically.
English IX - Skills
When writing a research paper, you will
be required to cite your references and
list the materials that were used. The list
is called a Works Cited page, or
bibliography.
Books are arranged alphabetically by the
last names of authors. Reference
materials are arranged alphabetically by
English IX - Skills
Alphabetization
Alphabetization is the arrangement of
words according to their order in the
alphabet.
To alphabetize a list of words, begin by
looking at the first letter of each word,
then the second letter, and so on, until
you have arranged words alphabetically.
The other two words both begin with
flin, so you must look at the fifth letter.
G comes before t, so the final
alphabetized list is:
flimsy
fling
flint
Example: How should these three words
be arranged alphabetically?
fling
flint
flimsy
They all begin with fli, so you must go to
the fourth letter to determine alphabetical
order. Because m comes before n, flimsy
Alphabetization
Alphabetize these four
words: organized,
English IX - Skills
The only word that begins with a is
announced, so this word will be listed
first. Two words in this group begin with
e: engenderedand employed. Therefore,
we must look at the second letters of
these words.
engendered
employed
Because m comes before n, employed
would be listed before engendered. The
last word in the group is organized,
because it begins with o.
English IX - Skills
Alphabetization
Here is the correct order for
alphabetizing the list:
announced
employed
engendered
organized
There may be occasions, such as in
listing authors or searching names in a
telephone directory, when the third
whole word of the listing will determine
the alphabetical order.
Example:
Alphabetization is simple if you take the
time to carefully look at each word.
Alphabetizing is beneficial in organizing
and in remembering. Consider how you
have used the dictionary, the thesaurus,
an encyclopedia, etc. to complete
homework assignments. Because each of
these reference materials use
alphabetization, your task was made
easier.
Daggs, Carl Andrew
Daggs, Carl Malone
Alphabetization
English IX - Skills