Which filing order correctly sequences the following names: Ms. Barb Isbell, Rev. Barbara Isbell, Miss Isbell's Puppets, and Mr. Scott Isbell?

Which filing order correctly sequences the following names: Ms. Barb Isbell, Rev. Barbara Isbell, Miss Isbell's Puppets, and Mr. Scott Isbell?

• A. Ms. Barb Isbell; Rev. Barbara Isbell; Mr. Scott Isbell; Miss Isbell's Puppets
• B. Ms. Barb Isbell; Rev. Barbara Isbell; Miss Isbell's Puppets; Mr. Scott Isbell
• C. Rev. Barbara Isbell; Miss Isbell's Puppets; Ms. Barb Isbell; Mr. Scott Isbell
• D. Miss Isbell's Puppets; Rev. Barbara Isbell; Ms. Barb Isbell; Mr. Scott Isbell

Answer: (A)

Filing by surname first, then by given name, with titles ignored for the order. All four records share the surname Isbell, so we compare the given-name parts and treat the fourth item as an organization, not a person. Barb is the given name in the first entry, Barbara in the second, and Scott in the third. In alphabetical order, Barb comes before Barbara (Barb is a prefix form and appears first), and Barbara comes before Scott. The fourth item is a business name, so in most filing schemes it is placed after personal records with the same surname. So the sequence is: Ms. Barb Isbell; Rev. Barbara Isbell; Mr. Scott Isbell; Miss Isbell's Puppets.

Filing by surname first, then by given name, with titles ignored for the order. All four records share the surname Isbell, so we compare the given-name parts and treat the fourth item as an organization, not a person.

Barb is the given name in the first entry, Barbara in the second, and Scott in the third. In alphabetical order, Barb comes before Barbara (Barb is a prefix form and appears first), and Barbara comes before Scott. The fourth item is a business name, so in most filing schemes it is placed after personal records with the same surname.

So the sequence is: Ms. Barb Isbell; Rev. Barbara Isbell; Mr. Scott Isbell; Miss Isbell's Puppets.