Abstract: The invention provides a group of standardized plastic binding elements that include two, three, four, five, or seven fingers that are spaced along the spine at precise locations to accommodate the perforations spaced according to specific standardized loose-leaf hole patterns. The binding elements preferably have spines likewise corresponding to at least the length of specific standardized paper sizes, i.e., 8.27 inches (21 cm), 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) 11 inches (28 cm), 11.69 inches (30 cm), 14 inches (39.5), and 16 inches (40.5 cm). The fingers of the binding elements either secure together or to the spine when in the closed position, or the binding elements are held in the closed position by other structure such that the binding elements may be utilized to bind a stack of standard, loose-leaf sheets without the use of a binding machine.