The spelling of the word "alphabetize" may seem confusing, but it can be explained through its IPA phonetic transcription. The word is pronounced /ˈælfəbətaɪz/, with the emphasis on the second syllable. This word is derived from the noun "alphabet", which is spelled with a "ph". However, when we add the verb suffix "-ize", we use a "b" in place of the "ph". This follows the general rule that when a suffix is added to a word ending in "ph", the "ph" is replaced with a "p" or "b".
Alphabetize is a transitive verb that refers to the act of arranging items, particularly words or names, in the order of the letters in the alphabet. This process organizes a list in a systematic manner to facilitate searching or referencing. When alphabetizing, the item in question is arranged in ascending order according to the alphabetical sequence of letters.
To alphabetize a list, one must follow specific rules. First, the initial letter of each word or name is considered. If multiple words start with the same letter, the second letter is compared, and so forth, until a distinction can be made. In case of ties within a group of words starting with the same letters, one continues to the next letter until complete order is achieved.
The purpose of alphabetizing is to create a logical and efficient arrangement of information, making it easier to locate or categorize specific items. This practice is widely employed for various purposes, including organizing dictionaries or glossaries, creating indexes for books or databases, sorting contact lists, filing systems, or libraries, among others.
Skills in alphabetizing are vital for effective information retrieval and management. It enables one to quickly find desired items based on their order within the alphabet, facilitating navigation and reducing time spent searching.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "alphabetize" is derived from the root word "alphabet", which comes from the Late Latin word "alphabetum", and before that, from the Greek word "alphabētos". The Greek word originates from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, "alpha" and "beta". The suffix "-ize" is a common suffix in English, used to form verbs meaning "to make" or "to convert into". Therefore, "alphabetize" means "to arrange or organize according to the alphabet".