Alphabetical Filing: The Complete Rule Set
Rewrite every entry in filing form, then compare letter by letter. One stated convention (DEC-02) covers words, titles, people, businesses, offices and numbers.
What it is
Alphabetical filing means putting words, names or titles in A-to-Z order so that a record can be found fast. On the exam you see five entries labeled a to e, and you choose the order string (for example cedba) that lists them in filing order. Some items ask only which entry comes first.
The work has two parts: first rewrite each entry in its filing form (surname first, articles moved, numbers spelled out), then compare the entries letter by letter.
Why it matters on the exam
Filing items make up a large part of the Clerical section of the Sub-Professional test. They look easy, so many examinees rush and lose points on titles, particles, numbers and long shared word beginnings.
In a government office, a misfiled folder is a lost folder. Records officers, clerks and secretaries use these rules every day.
a. registry b. register c. registration d. registered e. registrar
- dbcae
- bdeca
- bdcea
- bdace
- dbeca
The rest of this lesson, and every other lesson, is part of ReviewTayo.
Read moreIn the full lesson
- How to recognize it on the test
- What to look for (7 checks)
- All 9 rules and tools
- 3 worked examples, every step explained
- 8 common mistakes and how to fix them
- 3 exam techniques
- Remember: 5 key points
- Practice questions with explanations, and your progress saved
More Clerical Ability lessons
ReviewTayo has 47 lessons that follow the official scope of the exam, each with rules, worked examples, common mistakes and practice. Open one and read the first part.