How to Alphabetize in Google Docs?
Written by: Hrishikesh Pardeshi, Founder at Flexiple, buildd & Remote Tools.
Last updated: Feb 14, 2023
Google Docs is one of the most widely-used word processing applications on the internet. It offers a range of features, is incredibly simple to use, and is completely free.
Whether you use Google Docs for personal use, such as keeping a journal, making lists, or for professional use, such as drafting letters or creating documents, it is always important to keep things organized.
But when you're using Google Docs to make lists, it can get frustrating for the reader if the list is not organized properly. Hence, you need to make sure that your lists are organized - be it numerically or alphabetically.
If you want to order your lists in Google Docs alphabetically and are wondering how to alphabetize in Google Docs, unfortunately, Docs doesn't provide an in-built default feature right off the box. So if you want to alphabetize lists in Google Docs, you'll first need to download and install an add-on.
Read on to find out how to alphabetize in Google Docs. This step-by-step guide will help you easily learn how to order your lists alphabetically and keep your document organized.
Table of Contents
- What is Alphabetazing in Google Docs
- When do we need to Alphabetize in Google Docs
- How to Alphabetize in Google Docs
- How to Alphabetize in Google Sheets
- FAQs: How to alphabetize in Google Docs
What is Alphabetazing in Google Docs
If you're a power user of Google Docs, you'll more often than not be creating many documents with long lists of text. However, to keep your document readable, it is essential to keep it organized in a neat and proper manner.
One way to organize your lists in a Google Docs document is to sort them alphabetically. This sorts rows of text by considering the first letter of the first word in each line.
You could do this manually for shorter lists, but it can become cumbersome and time-consuming for longer lists. However, there is an option to alphabetize in Google Docs automatically within seconds.
When do we need to Alphabetize in Google Docs
Alphabetizing text is an easy way to organize data and keep it sorted for future reference. If you sort your data alphabetically and then save it, anyone who looks at it later can easily understand what the document is about.
Furthermore, like sorting data numerically, sorting text alphabetically can also help you analyze the text. This is especially useful for large amounts of text where you have long lists - for example, a database of the names of students in your class.
If text is not organized, it is very easy to get lost while reading the document. Also, by having your text sorted alphabetically, you will be easily able to search for something from a long list of text.
How to Alphabetize in Google Docs
Alphabetizing text in Google Docs is pretty straightforward. Here's a step-by-step walkthrough on how to quickly alphabetize in Google Docs:
Step 1. Open the required Google Docs document → Click on 'Add-ons'
Step 2. Select 'Get Add-ons'
Step 3. Type 'sorted paragraphs' in the search bar
Step 4. Click on the add-on as shown below, and select 'Install'
Step 5. Provide Google login details and permissions for your account
Step 6. Google Docs will prompt you that the add-on has been installed
After installing the Sorted paragraphs add-on to Google Docs, you are ready to alphabetize text in your documents.
Step 1. Select the text you want to organize alphabetically
Step 2. Click on 'Add-ons'
Step 3. Hover over 'Sorted paragraphs' → Select 'Sort A to Z' (alphabetical order) or 'Sort Z to A' (reverse-alphabetical order)
That's it. Google Docs will take a few moments to automatically sort your data, and the final text should be sorted alphabetically.
How to Alphabetize in Google Sheets
There are two ways you can alphabetize text data in Google Sheets:
- Using the formula '=SORT'
- Using the in-built 'Sort' option
Let us go through the 2 methods step-by-step:
1. Using the formula '=SORT'
Step 1. Open the required Google Sheets spreadsheet
Step 2. Select the cell where you want the alphabetized list to appear
Step 3. Type '=SORT(' (Note: You can also type it in the formula bar)
Step 4. Select the data range that you want to alphabetize (the range can also be entered within the formula brackets)
Step 5. Hit 'Enter' on the keyboard
Your alphabetically sorted list should now appear at the selected cell.
2. Using the in-built 'Sort' option
Step 1. Select the range of cells you want to alphabetize
Step 2. Go to 'Data' → 'Sort range'
Step 3. Choose between 'A to Z' or 'Z to A' → 'Sort'
The range of cells that you had selected should now be alphabetically sorted.
FAQs: How to alphabetize in Google Docs
Can I alphabetize in Google Docs on mobile?
No. Unfortunately, Google Docs mobile version doesn't have an in-built sort option, nor does it support the Sorted Paragraphs add-on. It is only possible to alphabetize in Google Docs by accessing it via a PC.
Can I alphabetize in Google Sheets on mobile?
Yes, it is possible to alphabetize in Google Sheets mobile version.
Step 1. Simply double-tap on the column that you wish to sort alphabetically
Step 2. Tap the three-dot icon
Step 3. Tap 'Sort A to Z' or 'Sort Z to A' according to your preference
Is it possible to alphabetize bullet-point lists in Google Docs?
Yes. For alphabetically sorting bullet-points in Google Docs, you can follow the same process described above. The presence of bullet-points has no effect on the sorting.
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