When indexing names for filing in an alphabetic system, symbols such as #, $ and % are

• A. ignored
• B. considered as spelled out
• C. never the key indexing unit
• D. always the key indexing unit

Answer: (B)

In an alphabetic filing system, the order is based on letters, so symbols like #, $, and % aren’t treated as separate indexing units. They’re normalized by being read as their word equivalents, which keeps the heading in a predictable, searchable place within the alphabet. That’s why these symbols are considered as spelled out: the heading becomes something you can locate by the same letter-based logic you use for ordinary words. For example, a heading containing a # would be filed as if it read “Number,” a $ as “Dollar,” and a % as “Percent,” following the same alphabetic rules as any other word. This approach ensures consistent retrieval and avoids chaotic placement that would result from treating symbols as distinct characters.