ABC Order by the Second Letter for Kids: When Words Start the Same (Grade 2 English)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. You know how to put words in ABC order by their first letter. But what if two words start with the same letter? Today we will learn the second letter trick!

First, a quick review. Apple, dog and sun start with different letters. A comes before d, and d comes before s. So the order is apple, dog, sun. Easy!

Now look at bus, bat and bed. They all start with b, so the first letter cannot help us. When the first letters match, slide your finger over and look at the second letter.

The second letters are u in bus, a in bat, and e in bed. In the alphabet, a comes first, then e, then u. So the order is bat, bed, bus.

Let's try another set. Tiger, train and tent. All start with t. The second letters are i, r and e. E comes first, then i, then r. So we get tent, tiger, train.

What if the first two letters match too? Then look at the third letter! Shop and ship start with s h. Check letter three. I comes before o, so ship comes before shop.

Now it's your turn. Put these words in ABC order. Cup, cat and cot. Look at the second letter of each one. Pause and try. The order is cat, cot, cup, because a, o, u.

Great job! When first letters match, look at the second letter. If those match too, look at the third. Practice ABC order by the second letter in the English Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!