A method of ordering bits in an N-bit status word (s[c]) adapted to represent the state of a coefficient (c) during an entropic encoding of the coefficient in several passes is adapted to modify the value of the last bit N-1 of the status word (s[c]), representing the sign of the status word (s[c]), according to the significance of the coefficient (c). A method for the entropic encoding of a coefficient (c) in several encoding passes using this status word (s[c]) comprises a step of comparing the value of the status word (s[c]) with the value 0 in order to determine whether a first condition is satisfied and a step of applying the first encoding pass to the coefficient (c) when the first condition is satisfied.