How to Alphabetize in Google Docs (An Ultimate Step-by-step Guide)

Do you want to organize your data inside Microsoft word in alphabetical order so that you can go through it easily the next time? If yes, then all you need to do is access the “Sort” option from the menu toolbar. You might want to scan this article that covers all the basic workarounds for this most popular query, “how to alphabetize in Google docs?“

However, if you are using Google Docs as your daily word processor, then you might run out of luck because Google doc is not that great with such features.

But, it doesn’t mean that it is impossible to alphabetize data in Google docs.

Don’t believe us?

How to Alphabetize in Google Docs?

As mentioned earlier, alphabetizing paragraphs and lists in Microsoft Word is one of the easiest tasks of all.

All you need to do is select the desired part of the text that you want to organize in alphabetical order and then click on the “Sort” button.

That’s it, the selected text gets instantly organized alphabetically.

However, the same is not possible with Google Docs as it currently lacks such a feature.

Maybe in the future, Google will add this feature inside the menu toolbar section, but for now, we will need to use the “Sorted Paragraphs” or “Doc Tools” add-ons, to get the job done. 

So, if you are ready to give them a try, then follow the step-by-step instructions that are mentioned below.

Alphabetizing using Sorted Paragraphs.

Now, Sorted Paragraphs by Filipe Werneck is an Alphabet sorting add-on or say an extension

That helps in arranging the sentences or paragraphs in ascending to descending (A to Z) or descending to ascending (Z to A) order.

This tool can be easily installed via Google Workspace Marketplace in Google Docs and needs no extra requirements on the computer hardware part. 

So, if you are interested in giving it a shot, then follow this tutorial thoroughly.

Step 1: Installing Sorted Paragraphs.

• Open Google Docs and sign in if required.
• Next, open up your existing Google Docs file.
• Then, navigate to the top of the screen to access the “Menu toolbar.”
• After that, click on the “Extensions” option.

• A drop-down menu will appear on the screen. This menu will consist of mainly two different options; Add-ons and Apps Script. 
• Now, click on the “Add-ons” option.

• A new side menu will pop up.
• Select, “Get add-ons.”

• A new window will pop up on your screen that consists of all the add-ons that are featured inside the “Google Workspace Marketplace.”
• Next, all you need to do is type “Sorted Paragraphs” inside the search toolbar.

• You will get back search results for Sorted Paragraphs. So, click on “Sorted Paragraphs” by “Filipe Werneck.”

• Now, click on the “Install” button.

• Then, click on the “Continue” button to confirm.

• Next, it will ask you to confirm your Google account. So, confirm it.
• After that, click on the “Allow” button to grant “Sorted Paragraphs” to “View and Manage” documents.

• And that’s it. The Sorted Paragraphs add-on will get installed on your Google Docs.

Step 2: Using Sorted Paragraphs.

• Now assuming that your Google Docs document is open, we suggest you first select the portion of the paragraph or list that you want to sort alphabetically.
• You can also select the whole list or paragraph by using the keyboard shortcuts, CTRL+A (on Windows), or CMD+A (on Mac).
• Next, open up the “Extensions” menu from the menu toolbar.

• Then, navigate to the “Sorted Paragraphs” add-on.

• This will open up a new side menu with two options; “Sort A to Z” and “Sort Z to A.”

• Now, click on “Sort A to Z“, if you want your list sorted in ascending order, or click on “Sort Z to A” if you want it in descending order.
• And that’s it. Your list or paragraph will get sorted in your chosen manner instantly.

Note: If your document consists of different headers for different topics, then always sort out each section one at a time. This will ensure that the structure of your document will remain intact and won’t get messed up.

Alphabetizing using Doc Tools.

Next, you can also use Doc Tools by Ablebits to sort your list or paragraph in an alphabetical manner. 

Now, this very tool consists of a whole lot of other options to choose from apart from the basic Ascending/Descending sorting.

Below are the steps on how to use this tool.

The installation:

The installation process for this add-on is similar to the previous one. For instance, you just need to;

• Open your Google Docs.
• Head towards the “Extensions” menu from the menu toolbar.
• Then, select “Add-ons” > “Get add-ons.”
• This will open up “Google Workspace Marketplace.”
• Now, type in “Doc Tools” inside the search bar.
• Then, select the one by “Ablebits.”

• After that, click on the “Install” button and then give it some permissions that it requires.
• And done. The add-on is ready for use.

The implementation:

• Now assuming that you have opened up your Google Docs file, select the whole list or paragraph by using CTRL+A (on Windows), or CMD+A (on Mac). You can also select a specific part of the paragraph.
• Next, navigate to the menu toolbar and then click on the “Extensions” menu.
• A drop-down menu will open up.
• Then, click on the “Doc Tools” option, to open a new side menu.

• Lastly, either select “Sort the selection ascending” if you want to arrange it in ascending order. Or else click on “Sort the selection descending” to sort it in descending order.

• That’s it, your selected text is now organized in the selected alphabetical order.

Alternative methods.

Now, many people don’t trust extensions or in this case add-ons due to security issues.

So, in such cases, we suggest you two additional alternatives.

The first one is using Google’s own Google Sheets and the second one is Microsoft Word.

So, let’s explore these two given options to get the job done.

Using Google Sheets to Alphabetize your Google Docs.

Unlike Google Docs, Google Sheets is a feature-rich tool that can help you get things sorted out just like that, and in this case, sorting out the list or paragraph in alphabetical order. 

So, let’s use this Google tool to get our Doc sorted.

• Open up your Google Docs.
• Now, select the list or paragraph that you want to arrange in alphabetical order and just copy it by pressing CTRL+C (on Windows), or CMD+C (on MAC).
• Then, click on the “Docs” icon visible at the left-hand corner of the screen.

• This action will take you to the main Google Docs page.
• Now, click on the “Hamburger” menu.

• Then, select “Sheets.”

• This will open up Google Sheets main page.
• Now, select the “Blank” option to open up a new blank spreadsheet.

• Next, paste the copied data into the spreadsheet using “CTRL+V” (on Windows), or “CMD+V” (on MAC).
• Now, again select the whole column by dragging the mouse pointer or by using the “Shift+Down arrow key.”
• After that, click on the “Data” menu from the menu toolbar.

• Then, click on the “Sort range” option.

• Doing so will open up a new side menu.
• From that menu select “Sort range by column A to Z” (for ascending order), or “Sort range by column Z to A” (for descending order).

• You will now see that the order of the list or paragraph has been sorted alphabetically.
• Now, copy the entire list or paragraph with the help of the copy command on your Mac (CMD+C) or Windows (CTRL+C) PC.
• Then, go back to your Google Docs file and paste the copied list or paragraph inside it.
• That’s it. You have successfully sorted out your Google Docs in alphabetical order.

Using Microsoft Word to Alphabetize your Google Doc.

The second alternative to this problem is using Microsoft Word. 

Yes, Microsoft Word is a rich word document processor by Microsoft that features the sorting feature directly on its home page.

So, if you want to try it out and sort your data alphabetically, then follow these simple step-by-step instructions mentioned below.

• Open your Google Docs file.
• Now, copy your list or paragraph by using the allotted keyboard shortcuts.
• Next, open up a blank Microsoft Word document on your PC.
• Then, paste the copied text inside the Word file.
• Again, select the entire text by dragging the cursor or using the keyboard shortcut; CTRL+A on Windows, or CMD+A on Mac.
• After that, navigate to the toolbar section and then click on the “Sort” button.

• Now, select the appropriate options from the drop-down menu.

• Then, select either the “Ascending” or “Descending’ option followed by the “OK” button.

• Afterwards, copy the entire text using the keyboard shortcut.
• Now, switch to your Google Docs file, and paste the copied text inside the document.
• That’s it, all your text is sorted out in alphabetical order.

How to alphabetize tables in Google Docs?

Tables in Google Docs provide users the flexibility to make the text more organized, and it is also super helpful if you are planning to categorize your data. 

But, what if you want to organize the whole table in alphabetical order?

Well, it is definitely possible by following the next tutorial.

• Open your Google Docs file which consists of the tabled data.
• Now, hover over the first row to bring out the hidden menu.

• Lastly, all you need to do is click on the “Sort table” icon, and then select the “Sort ascending“, or “Sort descending” option accordingly.

• That’s it, your table will be sorted out in either A to Z or Z to A format.

Note: If you have made a header for your table, then we suggest you pin the header using the “Pin” icon and then follow the steps mentioned above.

Conclusion:

Sorting data in alphabetical order can be really helpful if you are making a lengthy list or just want to keep everything in order.

And therefore, if you want to sort out your data in alphabetical order using Google Docs,

Then all you need to do is install an add-on called “Sorted Paragraphs” or “Doc Tools“, and then follow the instructions mentioned in the article.