Alphabetical Order MLA Works Cited Generator: How to Organize Your Citations Like a Pro

Creating a perfectly formatted MLA Works Cited page can be a challenge—especially when you're juggling multiple sources. One of the most common errors students and researchers make? Forgetting to arrange their citations in alphabetical order .

Whether you’re writing an academic paper or creating a research project, here’s how to get your MLA Works Cited page sorted alphabetically with minimal effort.

Step-by-Step Guide: Alphabetizing Your MLA Works Cited Page

1. Collect Your MLA Citations

Before you start organizing, make sure your sources are properly formatted in MLA 9th edition . Each citation should begin with the author’s last name (or the title if no author is listed).

Example:

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Smith, John. *Digital Trends in Education*. Oxford Press, 2022.

2. Paste Your Citations in Google Docs

Open a new Google Doc and paste all your citations onto a blank page. Press “Enter” after each one so that every citation starts on a new line.

3. Highlight All Your Citations

Click and drag your cursor to highlight the entire list of sources. This ensures the alphabetical sorting only applies to your Works Cited section—not the rest of your document.

4. Sort Alphabetically in Google Docs

Here’s how to alphabetize in Google Docs:

1. Click on the “Add-ons” tab (or “Extensions” in newer versions).
   
2. If you don’t already have a sorting tool, install “Sorted Paragraphs” from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
   
3. Once installed, go to Extensions > Sorted Paragraphs > Sort A to Z .
   

Google Docs will automatically rearrange your citations in A–Z order .

5. Double-Check MLA Formatting

Sorting alphabetically is just part of the job. Double-check for these MLA guidelines:

1. Use hanging indentation (First line flush left, all others indented).
   
2. Title your page “Works Cited” , centered at the top.
   
3. Maintain double spacing throughout.
   

To apply hanging indentation:

1. Highlight your citations.
   
2. Go to Format > Align & Indent > Indentation options .
   
3. Under Special , choose Hanging and click Apply .

FAQ: MLA Alphabetical Order & Citations

Q1: Do I alphabetize articles with no author?

Yes. If there’s no author, alphabetize by the first significant word of the title (ignore “A,” “An,” or “The”).

Q2: Can I sort MLA citations in Word the same way?

Yes. Word also allows alphabetical sorting. But if you’re using Google Docs, following the steps above or using Docswrite is faster.

Q3: Is Docswrite free?

Yes! Docswrite.com is a free tool you can use to format citations and organize them alphabetically—no sign-up or installation needed.

Q4: What if I have multiple sources from the same author?

List them alphabetically by title. Do not repeat the author’s name; use three hyphens (---) instead, followed by the rest of the citation.