The rules which agree are in substance as follows:
New. Titles with the initial word New used as a proper adjective followed by a common noun, and those in which it forms a part of a compound place name should be arranged in one series, alfabeting by the last part. (New Amsterdam, new boat, New Canaan, new life.) Single words beginning with new, whether names of persons, places, or things, should be arranged in a following alfabetical series.
The hyfen is best disregarded, words connected by it being arranged as two words.
If an article, which belongs before a word used as a heding, is inserted after it, it is not to be taken account of in alfabeting.
The plural in s should follow the singular. The possessive case singular should follow the singular and precede the plural in s. The sequence, however, may not in either case be immediate. Several entries may intervene. Plurals in ies of words ending in y should precede the singular, tho not necessarily in immediate connection.
Common and proper nouns. In the case of words used sometimes as common and sometimes as proper nouns, the true order is person, place, and thing.
Surnames. Whenever a single name. Charles, Henry, William, is used as the sole designation of a person, this should precede the same word used as a surname. If several ranks are represented by one name, precedence should be given to those bearing the highest rank in this order, pope, emperor, king, noble, saint. If these represent different nationalities they should be groupt in the alfabetical order of the countries; and numerically under each country, as John I., John II. {118}
Family names that hav the same sound, but a different spelling, must be separated, but the reader should be aided as much as we can by a free use of cross references.
In names beginning with La, Le, and De—not French names—written separately, it is better to disregard the separation, and arrange these words as if they were written solidly.
Abbreviations. Names beginning with M’, Me, St, and Ste should be arranged as if written out in ful, as Mac, Saint, and Sainte, for the reason that they ar uniformly so pronounct, and often so written. And for the same reason entries beginning with Dr., M., Mme., Mlle., Mr., and Mrs. should be treated as if they were written in ful, as Doctor, Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle, Mister, and Mistress.