Final answer:
The incorrect rule for alphabetical filing is that 'Titles may be used as the last filing unit after the first name.' Instead, the last name is the primary guide, and titles do not come last in the filing order.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rule that is not a standard in alphabetical filing is: Titles may be used as the last filing unit after the first name. In standard alphabetical filing systems, titles are generally not considered the last filing unit. Instead, files are often organized by last names, with further categorization based on first and middle names or initials if necessary. For works with unknown authors, the first significant word of the title is typically used to alphabetize entries, excluding articles such as 'a', 'an', or 'the'. Spaces, prefixes, punctuation, and special symbols are usually disregarded in this filing system. To illustrate, if an entry has a name with a prefix like 'Mc' or 'Mac,' it is alphabetized based on the main part of the surname, ignoring the space that might sometimes be used between the prefix and the surname in everyday writing.
When filing documents alphabetically by author, remember to alphabetize by the author's last name. If several authors share the same last name, then their works should be organized alphabetically by the author’s first and middle names or initials. In the case of authors with the same initials, additional information may be considered to ensure proper ordering. Furthermore, for sources without known authors, the alphabetization is based on the first significant word of the title. Attention to detail in such cases ensures accuracy and efficiency in retrieval.