08.3.3 Arranging Bibliographies Alphabetically
- Susanna
Analytics
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