Which is the correct filing order among the following colleges: Columbia State College, Columbia Community College, Columbia College, College of the Columbia?

Which is the correct filing order among the following colleges: Columbia State College, Columbia Community College, Columbia College, College of the Columbia?

• A. College of the Columbia; Columbia College; Columbia Community College; Columbia State College
• B. College of the Columbia; Columbia State College; Columbia Community College; Columbia College
• C. College of the Columbia; Columbia Community College; Columbia College; Columbia State College
• D. Columbia State College; Columbia Community College; Columbia College; College of the Columbia

Answer: (A)

Filing names in alphabetical order hinges on comparing the names word by word from left to right. The first word is the primary key, and if those are the same, you compare the next word, and so on. In these college names, the first words are College and Columbia. Since “College” comes before “Columbia” alphabetically, the entry starting with College goes first. Among the remaining names, all start with “Columbia,” so you compare the second word: “College” comes first, then “Community,” then “State.” Put together, the order is College of the Columbia; Columbia College; Columbia Community College; Columbia State College. This is the sequence that results from applying standard alphabetical filing rules to the full names.

Filing names in alphabetical order hinges on comparing the names word by word from left to right. The first word is the primary key, and if those are the same, you compare the next word, and so on. In these college names, the first words are College and Columbia. Since “College” comes before “Columbia” alphabetically, the entry starting with College goes first. Among the remaining names, all start with “Columbia,” so you compare the second word: “College” comes first, then “Community,” then “State.” Put together, the order is College of the Columbia; Columbia College; Columbia Community College; Columbia State College. This is the sequence that results from applying standard alphabetical filing rules to the full names.