How to alphabetize paragraphs or lists in Google Docs, using a free and simple add-on

Steven John

Jun 5, 2019, 02:07 IST

How to alphabetize paragraphs or lists in Google Docs, using a free and simple add-on

A free add-on can help you alphabetize your Google Docs files.

Alphabetizing a Google Docs file can help you make large quantities of information quick and easy to browse.
You can alphabetize the paragraphs of a Google doc using a free add-on called "Sorted Paragraphs." Once installed, the process takes about four seconds.
Automatically alphabetizing the content in a Google doc can throw off the formatting, so use the feature with caution when a document's layout is important.
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Whether you're creating a list of prospective wedding guests, you're sharing notes with a classmate or colleague, or you just prefer to have your writing in alphabetical order, Google Docs makes it easy to organize the paragraphs in a document into alphabetical order.

That is, a Google doc makes it easy to do this once you have installed an add-on called "Sorted Paragraphs."

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The "Sorted Paragraphs" add-on repositions paragraphs into alphabetical order based on the first letter of the first sentence of each paragraph, and it can stack the sorted paragraphs either from A to Z or from Z to A

How to install the 'Sorted Paragraphs' add-on in Google docs

1. Log into your Google account and open the doc you want to alphabetize.

2. Click the words "Add-ons" in the taskbar at the top of the screen.

3. Click "Get Add-ons..."

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Open the Add-Ons menu.

4. In the popup window, search for "Sorted Paragraphs" using the search bar at the top right.

5. "Sorted Paragraphs" by Filipe Werneck should be the first result. Click the button that says "+ FREE" in the top-right corner.

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Install the 'Sorted Paragraphs' add-on.

6. Choose the Google account to which you want to add it.

7. Confirm your selection by allowing Sorted Paragraphs permission to be installed onto your Google account.

How to use 'Sorted Paragraphs' to alphabetize a Google doc

Now you're ready to alphabetize the paragraphs in a Google doc, be they 300 words long or just a person's name.

1. Highlight the paragraphs to be sorted.

2. Click "Add-ons."

3. Click "Sorted Paragraphs" from the dropdown menu, then select "Sort A to Z" or "Sort Z to A."

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Activate the add-on from your toolbar.

And that's it! Your doc will be alphabetized. Just note that spacing between the paragraphs might get messed up, so be ready to hit the enter key a few times to get things spaced out again.