Herordenen

Herordenen is a Dutch verb meaning to reorder or reorganize something that has already been arranged, placing items in a different or corrected order. The prefix her- signals a renewed or restored state, rather than an initial sorting. The term is used in administrative, editorial, library science, IT, and everyday contexts when a list, inventory, catalog, or layout needs adjustment.

In practice, herordenen covers tasks such as rearranging files, reordering shelves, updating rankings, or restructuring an outline. It implies a deliberate change to improve coherence, accessibility, or efficiency, rather than creating order from scratch.

Etymology: derived from ordenen (to organize) with the prefix her-, a common Dutch mechanism to indicate repetition, restoration, or returning to a prior state. The compound maintains the core sense of organizing while emphasizing the reapplication of order.

Usage notes: The term is neutral and descriptive, suitable for manuals, procedures, and formal writing. In casual speech, alternatives such as herstructureren or reorganiseren may convey nuances like broader restructuring or different scopes of change.

See also: ordenen; herordening (the act of reorganizing); herstructureren (to restructure); reorganiseren (to reorganize); data sorting (contextual usage in computing).