📚 Detailed Explanation of Ordering Words Alphabetically by the First Two Letters

When you order words alphabetically based on the first two letters, you need to carefully look at each word’s first letter and then the second letter. This is important because it helps you put words in the correct order, just like in a dictionary.

🔍 Step 1: Look at the first letter of each word

First, check the first letter of all the words. The letter that comes earlier in the alphabet goes first. For example, the letter A comes before B, so any word starting with A should be placed before words starting with B.

Example:

  • apple
  • banana
  • apricot

Here, “apple” and “apricot” start with A, which comes before B in “banana.” So, “banana” comes after these two.

🔍 Step 2: Look at the second letter if the first letters are the same

If two or more words start with the same first letter, you then look at the second letter to decide which comes first.

Example:

  • apple
  • apricot

Both words start with a, so you check the second letter:

  • apple → p
  • apricot → p

Both second letters are p (the same), so move on to the third letter if needed. But for the purpose of ordering by the first two letters only, if the first two letters are the same, the order stays based on those. If they are equal, then normally you would move to the third letter.

Now, here is a better example where the second letter is different:

  • bat
  • ball

Both start with b, so compare the second letters:

  • bat → a
  • ball → a

Oops, these are the same too! If the first two letters are the same, then you go to the third letter.

But for words where the second letter is different, like:

  • cat
  • car

Both start with c, now compare the second letter:

  • cat → a
  • car → a

Same again! Let’s try another example:

  • cab
  • can

Both start with ca, so look at the third letter:

  • cab → b
  • can → n

Here, b comes before n, so “cab” is before “can”.

💡 Final tips:

  • Always compare the first letter first.
  • If the first letters are the same, compare the second letter.
  • Keep going letter by letter if the first two are the same.
  • Practice with your own words by writing them down and ordering them.

📝 Summary example:

Order these words alphabetically by the first two letters:

  • apple
  • banana
  • apricot
  • ball
  • bat
  1. apple (starts with ap)
  2. apricot (starts with ap)
  3. ball (starts with ba)
  4. bat (starts with ba)
  5. banana (starts with ba)

Between “apple” and “apricot,” the first two letters are the same, so look further if needed. Between “ball,” “bat,” and “banana,” all start with ba. So look at the third letter:

  • ball → l
  • bat → t
  • banana → n

Since l comes before n and t, the order is ball, banana, bat.

Ordering words alphabetically by the first two letters helps make reading and finding words easier. Keep practising and it will become second nature!

📝 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Ordering Words Alphabetically by the First Two Letters

Question 1

Order these words alphabetically by the first two letters: apple, ant, apricot, atlas

Answer: ant, apple, apricot, atlas

Question 2

Put these words in order using the first two letters: break, brave, brain, bread

Answer: brain, brave, break, bread

Question 3

Arrange the following words alphabetically by the first two letters: clown, class, clean, cliff

Answer: class, clean, cliff, clown

Question 4

Order these words by their first two letters: dolphin, doctor, door, dove

Answer: dolphin, doctor, door, dove

Question 5

Sort these words alphabetically using the first two letters: flag, flame, flash, flat

Answer: flag, flame, flash, flat

Question 6

Put these in order by the first two letters: grape, graph, grass, gray

Answer: grape, graph, grass, gray

Question 7

Order these words based on the first two letters: jacket, jam, jab, jar

Answer: jab, jam, jar, jacket

Question 8

Arrange these words alphabetically using their first two letters: kite, king, kid, kill

Answer: kid, kill, king, kite

Question 9

Put in the right order by the first two letters: lemon, leaf, leap, learn

Answer: leaf, leap, learn, lemon

Question 10

Order alphabetically by the first two letters: music, museum, mustard, mute

Answer: music, museum, mustard, mute

Question 11

Arrange these words in alphabetical order by the first two letters: night, nail, name, nap

Answer: nail, name, nap, night

Question 12

Put in alphabetical order by the first two letters: ocean, octopus, offer, office

Answer: ocean, octopus, offer, office

Question 13

Order these words according to the first two letters: pencil, pen, penguin, people

Answer: pen, pencil, penguin, people

Question 14

Arrange in alphabetical order by the first two letters: queen, quick, quack, quiz

Answer: quack, queen, quick, quiz

Question 15

Put these in order by the first two letters: rabbit, race, rack, radio

Answer: race, rack, radio, rabbit

Question 16

Order alphabetically by the first two letters: salad, sale, salt, same

Answer: sale, salad, salt, same

Question 17

Arrange these words in order using the first two letters: tiger, tile, tilt, time

Answer: tile, tilt, time, tiger

Question 18

Put these words in order alphabetically by the first two letters: umbrella, umpire, unable, uncle

Answer: unable, uncle, umbrella, umpire

Question 19

Order these words by the first two letters: vacuum, valid, valley, value

Answer: vacuum, valid, valley, value

Question 20

Arrange these words in order by the first two letters: water, watch, wave, wax

Answer: watch, water, wave, wax