08.3.3 Arranging Bibliographies Alphabetically

The capitalization and alphabetization of entries in indexes and bibliographies can be very complicated, especially when compound and foreign names are involved. See the SBL Handbook, 73–76, 112–116.

Three helpful hints are:

i. Surnames that include the particles de, van, van der or von are not listed under the particle unless the name belongs to an English speaker. Compare the following two alphabetical series:

De Boer, Willis Peter

Ploeg, J. P. M. van der

Van Seters, John

Rad, Gerhard von

Van Til, Cornelius

Selms, Adrianus van

 

Vaux, Roland de

 

ii. Note that Du, La and Le are always considered the first part of the surname:

Du Buit, F. M.

La Mésangère, Pierre de

Le Déaut, R.

 

iii. Most Spanish authors and some English-speaking authors have double surnames:

Alonso Schökel, Luis

Díez Macho, Alejandro

Lane Fox, Robin