During grouping, articles (01) from an incoming article flow are grouped on a staging surface (02) and are transported away after completion of the grouping in order to make space for a new grouping. During grouping, the articles (01) are also detected by sensor with regard to their entry alignment and/or entry position in the article flow in order to subsequently bring them into a final alignment and final position corresponding to their arrangement in the grouping to be achieved. During grouping, the articles (01) located on the staging surface (02) are also detected by sensor. The method includes the steps: A. obtaining an actual alignment and an actual position (03) of the articles (01) located on the staging surface (02) with the aid of the sensor detection; B. recognizing mispositioned or fallen articles (05) by comparing the actual alignment and actual position (03) of the articles (01) with a desired alignment and a desired position in a desired state (04) of the articles (01) to be achieved in a grouping to be formed up to that point from the articles (01) that are located on the staging surface (02); and C. if it is recognized that one or a plurality of articles (05) are in a wrong position or alignment: issuing of a disruption message; and/or interrupting of the grouping; or automatic removing of the disruption by modifying the position and/or the alignment of the one or more articles (05), that are in a wrong position or alignment.