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Can an Essay have Bullet Points? Tips How to use them Right

Can the Essay be written in Points

One can use bullets as a way of arousing your interest in an article. However, you should do it moderately without the instance of overusing them. Points are the easiest way of breaking the information.

Besides, you must consider your document and your audience before finding it appropriate to use bullets. When you use them well, it will make it easier to write a hard-to-please audience and nail your point home. 

An essay can have bullet points if they help in presenting the arguments that the essay seeks to present. The points can help the reader understand more about the subject being written about. However, bullets in an essay should be restricted to a few lines because it is not feasible to write the whole essay in point form. An essay is a prose text and can only accommodate a few bullets.

When using bullets, ensure the sentence is relatively short. Again, the bullet points do not have to be complete sentences. Such allow the online reader to scan through the content and have a clue of what you are talking about. The bullets are great for use in an essay because they enhance the easier processing of information. 

No, you will be on safer grounds if you write without bullets. Depending on your establishment, you should avoid the use of bullets to avoid criticism and complaints.

You can organize it in a three-paragraph format which includes the introduction, body, and conclusion. You can read more about how to structure an essay in our guide and get more insights on such paragraphing.

Need Help with your Homework or Essays?

Tips how to incorporate bullet points into an essay.

An academic article can include lists that assist in organizing the materials and enable the reader to have a quick overview of that section.

One should construct them in a parallel fashion so as to have a point per line.

They should be consistent and organized to support the argument of that paragraph and the thesis in general.

In all cases, avoid numbers, bullets, and letters.

Several ways exist to format lists, as follows:

1. Run-In Lists 

A run-list is part of the general text where you can separate the elements by performing the following actions.

• Separate them with Numbers: You can separate the list by numbering. For example, 

The steering committee passed resolutions on 1) Consensus building, 2) Community allowances, and 3) Implementation of critical agendas. 

• Separate with Colon: It is a complete sentence followed by a list of items. There will be a separate sentence emanating from the list with a colon, as shown in the example. 

Do not hunt in the forest without the following tools: a sword, a bag, boots, and a phone.

2. Vertical Lists 

When you use the vertical lists, you should start with a full sentence that will offer an overview of what to expect. However, the list should not take a bullet format, as indicated below. 

Your admission letter should include the following items:

• The overall fee structure for the whole year
• The doctor’s recommendation part
• Your contact details

Alternatively, suppose the lead-in sentence is complete featuring all entries in the list; you can use a punctuation mark to follow each entry. For example, you can use the bullet points as indicated in the bellow sentence.

You can make whole plant-based cookies by performing the following steps: 

• Preheat the oven to a minimum temperature of 350F. 
• Add the dried food to the bowl.
• Stir all these mixtures (listed above).
• You can empty the ingredients (listed above). 
• Cover and allow it to chill in a fridge.  

In the example above, the steps use numbers as the bullet form, and they are necessary to list the steps of the recipe. Notably, every entry is a complete sentence; hence, you must use a final period. 

3. Punctuating Vertical Lists as a Sentence 

Such a scenario is actually when the list is too long. The format is ideal when the phrases consist of internal punctuations, making the reader find it hard to follow.

For example,

The physics professors proposed significant changes in the curriculum, and now it is a norm to find 

• great focus on teamwork;
• customized in-class lectures to enhance all learning styles;
• creative research techniques with an emphasis on those that require knowledge in labs;
• bilingual lesson plans.

4. Vertical Lists featuring subdivided items 

One can format a complex vertical list to resemble an outline using letters or numbers in the logical procedure. The introductory line must be a complete sentence, as indicated in the following example.

The debating club should be ready to ventilate on the following topics: 

• Cultural developments 
• The spread of the language 
• Development of kingdoms 
• The role of chiefs 
• Notable figures 

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Examples of Main Points in an Essay

You can indicate your main points in an easy to aid the understanding of the reader. For example, in the following paragraph.

Mediation is an ancient practice that users consider as a mind-body medicine that promotes a tranquil mind. It consists of relaxed breathing, a focused mind, a quiet environment, and a comfortable position.

Bullet Point Essay Example

When talking about a particular topic on ‘Rabbit repellants,’ we can justify our argument using the following formats.

A rabbit repellent is efficient in keeping the rabbits away since it has some formulations that are not pleasant to rabbits. This repellent works by forming an inhospitable environment for the rabbits, prompting them to go to the other garden. A good repellant should have the following features:

• Natural ingredients 
• Long-lasting application 
• It is non-toxic to animals and pets 

Check out my guide on whether essays can have subheadings and see the other side of writing essays other than just using bullets.

Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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Bullet Points – Rules, Usage, and Examples

| Danielle McLeod

| Punctuation

Danielle McLeod

Danielle McLeod is a highly qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom. With degrees in science, English, and literacy, she has worked to create cross-curricular materials to bridge learning gaps and help students focus on effective writing and speech techniques. Currently working as a dual credit technical writing instructor at a Career and Technical Education Center, her curriculum development surrounds student focus on effective communication for future career choices.

Bullet points help create key points to grab a reader’s attention and work on clarifying and directing the main point. They can summarize, provide directions, highlight main points, and offer an easy-to-follow structure for the reader to follow. 

Take a look at how you can use bullet points to enhance your text’s readability and structure your material. Our guide below offers rules, usage, and examples of bullet points used to help highlight the best ways to include these symbols in your writing. 

What Are Bullet Points?

Bullet points are typographical marks or symbols that introduce items in a list. Usually, a bullet point is represented by a centered dot (•), but there are different forms of bullets to pick from based on the writer’s preference. 

For example, a diamond (♦), diamond cluster (❖), an arrow (➢), and square (■) are other popular bullet point types that can be used. These can also be used to create a sub-bullet or nested bullet point following an initial bulleted idea. The important thing is to be consistent when using a different type of bullet and not to mix them up, which negates their entire purpose.  

How to Use Bullet Points That Work 

Bullet points are a great way to communicate information effectively. They provide a quick way to get the reader’s attention and offer scannable content to help make significant points that don’t require reading long blocks of text. 

Bulleted items help to engage readers by offering a quick presentation of the main ideas and information. They can also be used to present and summarize essential points quickly and efficiently, especially if you have a scanning reader who wants to see the main points before determining if they want to read the rest of the text. 

To Summarize

If you have presented a long or complicated argument in your text or provided a series of directions and information points, bullets can be used to summarize these ideas. 

For example:

To wrap it up, studying before an exam is a much better than cramming the night before. To make this effective, you should do the following:

• Gather all your study materials, notes, and text one week in advance
• Organize materials by level of difficulty
• Spend 15 to 20 minutes each night reviewing materials
• Review all main points the night before the exam 

To Provide a Fascination

A fascinating bullet is specific to points in a text that create curiosity and engage a reader, especially when bullets are used to highlight a product. They occasionally can be used as a headline (called external fascinations) or to highlight the information you want to stand out (internal fascinations). 

To List Items

Making lists with bullet points is useful when listing items separately to avoid confusing them with the rest of the words in a text block. Recipes, for example, provide ingredients that work well in bulleted form to help the reader quickly see what they need to have. 

To make this recipe, you will need the following:

To Highlight Main Points

Bullets are a great way to highlight or reiterate the main points of a text. They help emphasize information and remind the reader what they should be paying attention to. 

In order to be successful, you want to consider the following steps to ensure financial stability:

• Pay off all debt
• Keep three months’ worth of bill payments in savings
• Invest a percentage of your check each month

To List Directions

Whether giving directions to a location or instructions to complete a task, a list with bullet points can help create a step-by-step guide that is easy to follow. 

To finish glazing the cake, follow these steps:

• Mix the sugar, flavoring, and water together in a bowl
• Remove cake from oven
• Immediately pour ¾ of the glaze over the hot cake
• Allow to cool 
• Drizzle the remaining glaze over the top

Rules of Bullet Point Use

Using bullets are easy, but there are some basic bullet point style rules to remember when you include them in your writing. The majority of style guides, such as MLA or APA are consistent in their directions of bulleted use as well, but always double-check if you are constricted by guide rules. 

Use an Introductory Phrase or Sentence

Before using bullets, always be sure to first provide an introductory sentence or phrase to provide the reader context. It is important to provide this information as an explanation of why the material is being pulled from the rest of the text. 

The pet shop sells a variety of rare animals. Some of their most popular include:

• Baby skunks
• Sulfur Crested Cockatiels

Create Parallel Lists 

Parallelism is a way to keep your sentence structure grammatically consistent from one sentence to the next. The same should be applied when using bullets. Always begin your bullets with the same parts of speech and maintain the same grammatical structure for symmetrical content that is easy to read. 

She listed all the issues her students were having with bullet point format in essay examples.

• Forgetting to capitalize the first word
• Listing things out of order
• Mixing partial sentences with single words

Keep a Consistent Structure

Along with using parallel lists, also keep a consistent phrase or sentence structure . Be sure to use the same tense from one bullet to the next, and do not mix long and short sentences. If you use sentence fragments, make sure all the bullets are fragments. The same goes for complete sentences. 

Keep Ideas Simple

If you choose to bullet a complete or fragmented sentence, you should keep it simple and short. Remember to keep a consistent structure and use parallelism. 

The entire family went to different places for vacation last year:

• Aunt Rita traveled to Bali to complete her bucket list.
• Mom and Dad decided on an all-inclusive cruise.
• Mike went to a lake and fished by himself. 

Rules of Bullet Point Punctuation

There are only two essential rules of punctuation you need to know since a bullet can be a single word or single phrase, sentence fragment, or complete sentence and still be considered grammatically correct in its usage. 

Capitalization Should Stay Consistent

Generally, it would be best to always capitalize the first word following the bullet. However, you may keep single words in lowercase letters if you choose. Just stay consistent from one bullet to the next when using capital letters.

Punctuation is Reserved for Complete Sentences Only

Most bullets are single words, phrases, and sentence fragments. These do not need to be punctuated. If you are using complete sentences, you should always keep the punctuation consistent.

For example, a complete sentence should be properly punctuated with commas, colons, semicolons, and ending marks such as periods or questions marks. 

Words, phrases, and sentence fragments should not be punctuated. 

What is the Difference Between Bullet Points and Numbers?

Some people use numbers when listing information, but this isn’t always the best choice, and you should be aware of the specific uses that provide the best scenario for number use. 

To use a numbered list, you should consider if there is a specific order to the information you are highlighting, such as directions or action items. This is especially helpful for blogging and article type writing scenarios that include recipes or step by step guidelines. 

Otherwise, always use a bulleted list. These are a more versatile option overall and work to share content, improve readability, and draw attention to important information. 

Let’s Review

The most effective bullets highlight important information and bring attention to the major points of a text. They help with readability and clarity and can be used to list directions or provide summaries. 

Occasionally numbers can be used in place of a bullet point or symbol, but be sure to use numbers with information that should be listed in a specific order. 

It is common to capitalize the first word following bullet point usage; however, you may keep the word lowercase if it is a singular word. Punctuation is reserved for complete sentences only.

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Using Bullet Points ( • )

Want to communicate some important information in writing? If you want your reader to easily navigate the content, you might want to use some bullet points.

What are bullet points?

Bullet points are symbols that mark items in a list. Most of the time they look like this: •

• Bullet points (also called simply “bullets”) draw the reader’s attention.
• They provide an easy way for you to present the most important ideas.
• The information following each bullet should be brief: you want a person to be able to understand the content quickly.

When to Use Bullet Points

Use bullet points when the information you want to provide can be presented in the form of a list. They can be used in both formal and informal writing.

What a Bulleted List Should Look Like

Here are some features of a bulleted list:

• A bulleted list is typically preceded by some introductory words that tell the reader what they’re in for, as done in the sentence above.
• The bullet points should have the same basic structure, i.e., they should all be complete sentences, or all be phrases or single words; they should not be a mix.
• If bullet points are in sentence form, they should begin with a capital and end with punctuation.
• If bullet points are in phrase form, they don’t need ending punctuation and can begin with a capital or lowercase letter.
• Bullet points should be about the same length; you don’t want one to be super short, while the others are all long.
• You can use any symbol: dots, squares, or something else (as long as it doesn’t distract from the points you are making).

The bulleted list above was all sentences; here is an example of a phrase-based bulleted list, informing you that the word bullet :

• first referred to the missile-fired-from-a-firearm kind of bullet
• has been used in English since the late 16th century
• is from the Middle French words boulette , meaning “small ball,” and boulet , meaning “missile”
• has referred to the symbol(s) addressed in this article since the mid 20th century
• has appeared in the longer term bullet point since the early 1980s

Note that in this second bulleted list, each item completes the sentence begun in the introductory text. Consistency is important: use all complete sentences, or all phrases that complete part of the introduction.

Shortcuts and How to Type Bullet Points

How you insert bullet points depends on what word processing format or program you’re using. In Microsoft Word, Google docs, Gmail, Outlook and other PC email and word processing programs, look for the symbol that is three horizontal lines preceded by squares or dots. In Word, this symbol is in the Paragraph section under the Home tab.

There’s a Word shortcut too: Ctrl + Shift + L.

In Google docs the symbol is on the main navigation page. The Google/Gmail shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + 8.

In Apple, use the Format sidebar to find the Style button; click the Bullets & Lists menu near the bottom of the sidebar. The Apple shortcut is Cmd + Shift + 8.

Bullet Indents

Note that the bullet points will be inserted at an indented point. If you want the bullet point to be further indented, put your cursor just before the first letter of the first item and hit the tab key. If you want an item in your bulleted list to be indented further (maybe you want to have a sub-item or two under an item), put your cursor just before the first letter of the sub-item and hit the tab key.

Choosing Bullets

You can choose from a basic selection of bullet points at the basic three horizontal lines icon by clicking on the arrow beside it. In some programs, such as Microsoft Word, you can also add other symbols to use as bullet points. Go to “Define new bullet” and select from the options there. You can also copy a bullet symbol • and paste it into your document.

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Bullet Point Your Research Paper: A How-To Guide

As the demand for college and university-level research papers grows, so too does the need for effective strategies to help students break down their written work into manageable pieces. One approach that is gaining traction among instructors and tutors alike is bullet point organization of a research paper. This method allows students to present information more concisely while still conveying enough detail in order to effectively support any argument or position they are trying to make. In this article, we will provide an overview of what bullet pointing involves and how it can be used as part of successful paper composition. We will also provide tips on making sure points are chosen wisely when constructing your essay structure with bullets, along with some useful techniques for enhancing readability through proper formatting conventions such as font size and spacing guidelines. Finally, we’ll offer advice on troubleshooting common issues related to presenting one’s writing using this style so that you can confidently submit papers which have been organized clearly via bulleted lists – no matter what assignment or academic setting you find yourself in!

1. Introduction to Bullet Pointing Research Papers

2. benefits of bullet pointing in writing processes, 3. strategies for effective bulletin point creation, 4. examples of well-formatted and cohesive bulleted points, 5. pitfalls to avoid when structuring bullets in a paper, 6. tips for paragraph development after listing points, 7. conclusion: utilizing bullets as an organizational tool.

Unleashing the Power of Bullet Points in Research Papers

Bullet points have become indispensable tools for expressing ideas and structuring content. With their succinct format, they can quickly summarize key concepts or arguments within research papers. While some academics regard bullet pointing as an oversimplification of complex material, when used effectively, it’s a powerful way to organize information into bite-sized chunks that are easier to digest.

At its core, the purpose of bullet point research is to provide clarity and facilitate understanding among readers by breaking up long texts with shorter points. They also help guide readers through different sections so they don’t get lost in meandering explanations and convoluted syntaxes – something which could easily be avoided with judicious use of bullets! So yes – can research papers have bullet points? . Absolutely! Not only do they make your paper look more organized but also communicate your thoughts better than sentences alone ever could.

Organization and Presentation of Ideas Bullet pointing is an effective writing tool for organizing ideas, which can help writers present complex information in a digestible manner. The structure allows readers to quickly skim over the text while still grasping important points without getting lost in details. This makes bullet-pointed paragraphs ideal when summarizing facts or providing quick overviews.

Moreover, bullets allow writers to connect pieces of information that might not have been otherwise related into categories, making them easier for readers to remember and absorb. Not only does this make it simpler to track concepts within texts but also highlights the most salient aspects of any given topic allowing readers to concentrate on more significant elements instead of wasting time with trivial details.

In terms of academic papers, researchers are often advised against using lists unless absolutely necessary due to their informal nature; however, there are instances where including some form bullets may improve readability such as when presenting survey results or numerical data. When used judiciously they can be beneficial by creating visual breaks between sections helping organize large chunks of content into manageable bitesize segments – something particularly useful during long-form assignments like dissertations or research papers.

Prioritize Points

Creating effective bullet points begins with prioritizing the most essential information. All topics should be given due consideration and weighted against each other. What is more important to emphasize in a research paper? Picking out key talking points can help readers understand the material quickly and easily, without overwhelming them with too much detail.

Organization is critical for creating memorable bullets that make an impression on viewers. Clarity must come first before aesthetic considerations are made about font type or size, as well as images or multimedia elements placed alongside them. It’s also worth considering if all parts of a topic will need bullet points or if some ideas can be explained further through text-based explanation; either way it’s important not to clutter up the page with too many bullets at once.

Balance Detail & Brevity

• Research papers often contain dry facts and technical language – but do these really have to appear in their plainest form within bullet lists?
• It helps to think of each point as having its own personality which comes from being able to capture complex ideas into concise words.

By using creative phrasing while still preserving meaning, content creators can craft captivating yet informative writing – especially when done right this provides an engaging entrypoint into understanding any subject matter no matter how complicated it may seem initially.

Bulleted points are a great way to add organization and structure to any type of document. They can be used in research papers, newsletters, brochures, webpages and other documents as they provide readers with an easy-to-read format that breaks down complex information into smaller chunks. When using bulleted points it is important to ensure that the content within each point is cohesive and well formatted for maximum impact.

Using Cohesive Points: To create effective bullet points it’s important that all of the items listed have some sort of common thread running through them so the reader doesn’t feel confused or overwhelmed by having too much unconnected material presented at once. For example if you were writing about different types of chocolate chip cookies then each point should contain relevant details like ingredients used, baking time required etc., rather than unrelated facts such as calorie counts or serving suggestions which could confuse readers who weren’t expecting these sorts of details included in your list.

• Chocolate Chip Cookies – 1/2 cup butter; 2/3 cup sugar; 1 egg…

Formatting Your Content: Additionally when creating bullet points make sure everything looks neat by formatting correctly including capitalizing words where appropriate, adding punctuation marks after each item on the list and not making individual entries run over multiple lines – unless absolutely necessary due to word count restrictions.

For instance instead of saying “chocolate chip cookie recipe contains Butter Sugar Egg Vanilla Extract Flour Baking Soda Salt” you’d want to write out something like this.

• “Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe – Contains : Butter , Sugar , Egg , Vanilla Extract , Flour , Baking Soda & Salt .”

. This makes your work appear more professional while also helping break up difficult concepts into easier pieces for better understanding!

In conclusion yes research papers can include bulleted lists but bear in mind both cohesion among points as well as proper formatting rules must be adhered too for best results.

When structuring bullets within an academic paper, there are certain pitfalls that should be avoided for the most effective communication of ideas and research outcomes. The following tips will help you keep your writing clear and concise while also avoiding common errors.

The first mistake to avoid is using too many bullet points – this can quickly make the text seem cluttered or disorganized. It’s important to use bullet points judiciously; often, two or three well-structured sentences may convey more information than a lengthy list of bullets would. Additionally, it’s worth noting that while some instructors allow them in their papers, not all do – so it pays to check with yours before including any! Lastly, avoid treating each bullet as if its own individual paragraph – instead think of them as subheadings which organize long blocks of copy into manageable sections.

• For example:

Bullets can add structure when discussing complex topics by breaking down long texts into shorter parts – but they shouldn’t be overused and should always fit logically into the overall narrative arc being created by your paper. Can Research Papers Have Bullet Points? Yes – provided that they follow specific formatting guidelines such as keeping bullets relatively brief (three lines maximum)and only using relevant information pertaining directly to your topic at hand. If used correctly, then yes–research papers can certainly benefit from organized lists!

Developing the Paragraphs: Once the points are listed, it’s important to build on them and develop each idea within a paragraph. This is done by linking the information from one point with that of another in order to create sentences which flow naturally together. The transition words used should be relevant and help keep readers engaged in reading further. Additionally, providing supportive details for every argument presented is essential; this can include quotes from reliable sources or statistics related to an issue discussed in the paper.

Another helpful strategy when developing paragraphs after listing points is using bullet points if they fit better than plain text – some research papers may benefit from having clearly outlined ideas more so than lengthy descriptive passages. Be sure to use consistent font sizes for any bullets as well as indentation spacing between them – these will make key concepts easier for readers to comprehend quickly without disrupting their overall understanding of your paper’s main arguments.

Bullet Points: Streamlining Content for Improved Comprehension

The utilization of bullet points is an effective tool when it comes to presenting data and information in a more organized manner. It helps keep track of the various topics being discussed, as well as guiding readers through essential facts and conclusions easily. Bullets are especially useful in research papers where there is often too much detail included that could otherwise be overwhelming for readers to digest all at once. In addition, they allow researchers to present their findings succinctly without having to sacrifice clarity or context.

By utilizing bullets, authors can make sure their paper stands out from others by providing a clear structure and concise style that makes the content easier on the eyes while still retaining its value. Furthermore, this organization technique enables them to organize sections into subsections more effectively – something which may not always be possible with paragraphs alone since many times these tend towards lengthy digressions rather than straightforward statements of fact.

Can research papers have bullet points? Absolutely! Bullet points should never replace full sentences nor do away with important explanations or arguments but they can certainly supplement written text by helping convey complex ideas quickly and efficiently – something particularly valuable when dealing with long academic essays like those typically found in peer-reviewed publications!

English: This guide to bullet point research paper writing has provided an in-depth examination of the structure and organization that can make this process easier. By following these steps, writers will be able to produce concise yet effective papers with a well-crafted flow and thoughtful presentation of information. Furthermore, they may even find themselves inspired by the creative ways in which bullet points allow them to present their ideas. For those seeking further assistance with formatting or general academic writing skills, additional resources are available for consultation.

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Using Bullet Points

How to write bullets points correctly.

Create Parallel Lists (Use the Same Type of Word)

• Bathing in the river.
• Driving in the town.
• The local tapas bar.

Examples of Parallel Bullet Points

• Maintaining fire alarms and extinguishers.
• Training staff in CPR.
• Training staff how to use a defibrillator.
• Conducting routine fire-safety inspections.
• Complete the online data-storage course.
• Confirm your contact details with your line manager.
• Remove all personal items from their desks.
• Acquire a system log-in from the IT Support Desk.
• Tenacious in the pursuit of sales targets.
• Robust in the face of rejection.
• Determined to improve.
• Able to withstand pressure.
• Enthusiastic at all times.

Consistent Formatting with Bullet Points

Capital letter and a period (full stop).

• Egg-and-spoon race.
• Toss the pancake.
• Apple bobbing.

Lowercase Letters and No End Mark

• egg-and-spoon race
• toss the pancake
• apple bobbing

Punctuate Like a Sentence

• egg-and-spoon race,
• toss the pancake, and
• apple bobbing.

Punctuate Like a Sentence with Semicolons

• egg-and-spoon race;
• toss the pancake; and

Be Consistent!

Be Logical!

Don't Introduce Your List with a Semicolon

• Eating in the local tapas bar.

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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You're here: textbroker.com » Blog » For authors » Punctuation » When To Use Bullet Points In Your Writing

When To Use Bullet Points In Your Writing

Bullet points are a crucial tool for writers. These points provide clarity and focus for readers, quickly highlighting important topics.

As writers, we all agree that when you write copy for online viewership, it is different.  You have to persuade and honestly explain the goals of what you are writing in a better way.  Nothing helps this more than an understanding of when to use bullet points.

Our society has become a nation of skimmers and not deep readers.  This means, as writers, we must grab your attention and grab it quickly.  

As a content creator, what is the best way to handle this?  I could argue a point for making my content shorter , but I know that longer pieces often get better engagement .  Great content requires excellent substance, so that should be the goal.  Writing articles is about grabbing the reader’s attention, which needs me to focus on current trends .  In the world of copy, one of the most essential tools is the small but powerful bullet point.  

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When to use Bullet Points? 

When I think of the bullet point, I think of getting right to the topic.  I then have to explain the subject (or subject) precisely and honestly.  The author has to deliver instant gratification, or the intention of using the bullet point(s) has not been fruitful.

Using bullet points is a simple but powerful way to present a list of facts, statistics, or even traits of a subject.  You can even use bullet points to give instructions that sometimes do not need to be on a numbered list but instead, just get noted quickly.

Often bullet points are overutilized, so keep in mind your article structure to create the best formatting.  The goal is to enhance the article, not overwhelm the reader with lists.

Let’s discuss how to use bullet points:

• Remember to include a colon at the end of the text when introducing a bullet point section.
• Use the same font and margin width at each point.
• Ensure all the items in the list are related.
• Proper structure is still important.  If you’re creating sentences, capitalize the sentence and end with the appropriate punctuation.
• Bullet points can be words, phrases, or sentences.
• Important – always try to keep your bullet points as short as possible.

While there are best practices for using bullet points, remember that there is still flexibility based on your topic and article structure.  As an author, remain consistent and stick to an outline that works for you and your skills.  Make your copy easy to read with a visually appealing format.

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Why do authors use bullet points? 

There are many reasons why writers use bullet points.  Almost always, they fall into one of the following categories.

Summarization 

As mentioned, writing today is entirely different than a decade ago.  Trying to keep a reader’s attention sometimes means summarizing an issue.  This is where bullet points come can be extremely useful.

Expression of Major Points or Issues 

They can make a list of issues appear more professional.  If this leads to a better understanding by the reader, then you have done your job with your writing.

Item Lists 

Without a doubt, they can be used as a simple way to display a list of items.  

Give Directions 

They can help organize directions. 

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Knowing when to use bullet points is a great way to emphasize important aspects of your article.  As mentioned, don’t overuse and assess the structure of your paper.  Also, consider your audience , and how they will read and comprehend your writing.  If used correctly, bullet points can and will help your audience understand the key points of your content.

Feel free to contact us for any questions or concerns – Our team is always available to assist you!

Bullet Point FAQs 

What are the rules for a bullet points list? 

The items of a bulleted list must be short. Avoid bulleted items that are longer than two lines. If you need longer items, put them in the running text. Bulleted items should not repeat parts of the introductory sentence. 

When should you not use bullet points? 

Inappropriate use of bullet points arises when writers attempt to present an argument in list form. Bullet points alone are insufficient to constitute an argument. While bullet points can be helpful for complex ideas, they can also result in disjointed points. As such, connecting the pieces and ensuring the argument flows logically is crucial.

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• Blog, For authors, Punctuation, Professionalism, Grammar, Style

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• Writing Tips

How to Punctuate and Capitalise Bullet Points

• 4-minute read
• 9th March 2020

Everyone loves a vertical list. They’re easy to read. They look good. Why wouldn’t you want to add a list to your work ? The tricky thing is punctuation. Do you need a colon to introduce a list? Should each point start with a capital letter and end with a full stop? So many choices to make!

To help, we’ve prepared a guide to punctuating and capitalising bullet points.

Introducing a List: Do You Need a Colon?

When a vertical list follows a full sentence, introduce it with a colon .

There are two main methods available:

• Qualitative interviews with key staff members.
• Quantitative surveys involving all stakeholders.

You can also use a colon after a partial sentence.

Available methods include:

However, you can omit the colon when a list follows a partial sentence.

Available methods include

This is ultimately a matter of stylistic preference. But if you are using a style guide, you may want to check it for guidance on which style to use.

Punctuating Bullet Points: Do You Need Full Stops?

We’re often asked whether you need a full stop at the end of each entry in a list. And, as a guideline, we’d suggest punctuating bullet points as follows:

• When listing full sentences , use a full stop for each entry (like here).
• For lists with longer sentence fragments , full stops are optional.
• For a mix of fragments and full sentences , use a full stop at the end of each entry (just as you would for a list of full sentences).
• When listing single words or short phrases , there’s no need for a full stop.

However, this again comes down to preference and your chosen style guide. The key thing is applying a clear and consistent punctuation style to all lists.

Semicolons and Commas in Lists

Although a little old-fashioned, some people like to use semicolons or commas in lists. This is usually done when each list entry finishes an introductory phrase, as shown below:

Over the weekend, I have

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• Taken the dog for a walk by the river;
• Attended a dance class with Yvonne; and
• Made a spaghetti carbonara.

The idea is that the list reads like a single sentence, with semicolons separating each point, a conjunction just before the final entry, and a full stop at the end.

We could also write this list with commas instead of semicolons.

• Taken the dog for a walk by the river,
• Attended a dance class with Yvonne, and

These are perfectly acceptable, and some style guides suggest writing lists like this. However, most people now leave out the extra punctuation.

Capitalising Bullet Points

Finally, should you capitalise the first letter of each entry in a vertical list? And if so, when? This is another case where there are no hard rules! If you have a list of full sentences – or a list with a mix of full sentences and fragments – we suggest capitalising the first letter in each item.

Activities for this weekend:

• Howl at the moon on the strike of midnight.
• Take grandmother for lunch.
• Dance on the graves of my enemies.
• Introspective sitting and drinking.

For lists of fragments, short phrases, or words, capitalisation is optional:

My favourite fruits include:

• dragon fruit
• Dragon fruit

As with the other optional punctuation above, though, make sure to use a consistent capitalisation style throughout your writing. And if you’d like any more help with the punctuation and capitalisation of lists in a document, don’t forget we have proofreaders available 24/7 !

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Q. Are bulleted lists allowed in APA Style? How do I format a bulleted or numbered list?

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Answered By: Jonathan Faerber (he/him/his) Last Updated: Nov 04, 2021     Views: 171315

APA Style (7th ed.)

Bulleted and numbered lists are permitted by the APA Style rules; however, if you're unsure if your instructor will permit them in your assignment, please check with your instructor. Keep in mind that because bulleted or numbered lists only provide surface-level information rather than include analysis, and because the focus of academic writing is to demonstrate your critical thinking, these lists are used sparingly in formal academic writing in favor of communicating your ideas in complete sentences and paragraphs. See below for information regarding formatting lists.

Bulleted lists

The capitalization and punctuation for each bulleted item depends on whether the items form sentences or sentence parts. If the bulleted text is a full sentence, capitalize the first letter of the first word and end the paragraph with a period. For example:

• This is a sentence.
• This is another sentence.
• This is the last sentence of the bulleted list.

When a bulleted list separates three or more elements within a sentence, “begin each bulleted item with a lowercase letter” and either punctuate each item in the list as parts of a sentence (e.g., inserting commas), or exclude punctuation after each item (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020, pp. 190-191). For example:

In December 2018, British Columbia had an extreme storm that caused:

• massive damage due to high winds,
• widespread power outages that lasted many days, and
• flooded roads.

This storm affected multiple areas on Vancouver Island, including:

For other examples of bulleted lists, see Bulleted Lists in the APA Style Blog. For an explanation of the difference between a complete sentence and its parts, please see Sentences  and Sentence Elements  on the Writing Centre website.

Numbered lists

Numbered lists are helpful to identify the organization of information, such as "itemized conclusions” or “steps in a procedure" (APA, 2020, p. 190). Keep the following steps when creating a number list:

• Create the numbered list using the numbered list function on Microsoft Word or similar program.
• Set off Arabic numerals at the beginning of each item with a period rather than parentheses (i.e., “2.” rather than “(2)” or “2)”)
• Begin each item in the numbered list with a capital letter, and follow appropriate sentence punctuation throughout the list, using end marks like periods, exclamation, or question marks where required.

Please keep in mind that "the use of 'numbered lists' may connote an unwanted or unwarranted ordinal position (e.g. chronology, importance, priority) among the items" (APA, 2020, p. 190). To avoid this suggestion of position, use a bulleted list instead. For more information on numbered lists, see Numbered Lists in the APA Style Blog.

Lettered lists within a sentence

Lettered lists within a sentence are a good way to identify elements in a series within a paragraph or sentence without breaking the elements into a numbered or bulleted list. To indicate the list, use lowercase letters in parentheses (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 189). For example, "students were asked to choose between completing (a) a formal research essay, (b) a documentary-style video, (c) a multi-media experience that involves participants". To punctuate a lettered list within a sentence, use commas between each of three or more items, or use semicolons when separating items that include commas, such as a series of phrases (APA, 2020, p.189). See Lettered Lists from the APA Style Blog for more information and examples.

American Psychological Association. (2020).  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed.).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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Creating Vertical Lists in MLA Style

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

Although in humanities essays,  lists are generally run into the text , in other types of material, a vertical list may be preferable. Vertical lists call attention to the items listed, so such lists are often desirable in pedagogical and promotional contexts. The MLA’s guidelines for styling vertical lists are derived from  The Chicago Manual of Style (6.127–132). Below are examples of vertical lists—which may be unnumbered, numbered, or bulleted—and how to introduce, punctuate, and capitalize them.

Lists Introduced with a Complete Sentence 

A list may be introduced with a complete sentence followed by a colon, as in the examples below. The items in the list can be composed of complete sentences or fragments but should be consistent in using one or the other method.

List Items with Complete Sentences

If the list items are complete sentences, as in the examples below, the first letter of the first word of each item should be capitalized, and the item should be followed by closing punctuation, such as a period or question mark.

Finally, I posed the following overarching questions for students to consider throughout the semester: How can a man embody modern, bourgeois norms of masculinity in a country still strongly tied to the ancien régime? How do aristocratic and bourgeois models of manhood interact with one another in the Spanish realist novel? How are working-class men depicted in Spanish realism?  How can we apply Cartagena Calderón’s definition of the crisis of masculinity to the late-nineteenth-century Spanish context? 

List Items with Fragments

If the list items are not complete sentences and the list is numbered, capitalize the start of each item:

These raw materials can be grouped in four main areas: Early modern Christian beliefs inherited from the medieval period, indeed the very period that Shakespeare is writing about in the history plays The structure of feudal and and semifeudal society Emergent humanist ideas about history and politics imported from Renaissance Italy, especially those of Niccolò Machiavelli The key events of the Wars of the Roses and the corresponding key plot points of Shakespeare’s two tetralogies 

If the list is unnumbered or bulleted, generally lowercase the start of each item: 

These raw materials can be grouped in four main areas: early modern Christian beliefs inherited from the medieval period, indeed the very period that Shakespeare is writing about in the history plays the structure of feudal and and semifeudal society emergent humanist ideas about history and politics imported from Renaissance Italy, especially those of Niccolò Machiavelli the key events of the Wars of the Roses and the corresponding key plot points of Shakespeare’s two tetralogies

In some contexts, though, you may capitalize the first letter of the first word of each item if you wish to call attention to the items.

Lists That Continue the Sentence Introducing Them

A list may also start with a sentence continued in the list. No colon should appear before such lists.

If the list items are not complete sentences, you can often begin each item with a lowercase letter and use no punctuation after the item.

The MLA Style Center  is a free companion to the  MLA Handbook . The only official website devoted to MLA style, it provides  the opportunity to submit your own questions insights about MLA style from the MLA’s editors sample research papers instructions on formatting research papers teaching resources tools for creating works-cited-list entries

List Items Punctuated like a Sentence

In formal contexts, you may use semicolons between the list items and “and” before the final item: 

The MLA is expanding its advocacy efforts by

• sharing urgent information with members;
• developing strategic partnerships; and
• aggregating advocacy news, calls to action, and other resources on the MLA Action Network .

Sample lists taken or adapted from  the MLA website and the following publications:  Zachary Erwin’s “Teaching Masculinity in Pardo Bazán’s Novels” ( Approaches to Teaching the Writings of Emilia Pardo Bazán ,  edited by Margot Versteeg and Susan Walter, Modern Language Association of America, 2017, pp. 58–63) and Neema Parvini’s “Historicism ‘By Stealth’: History, Politics, and Power in  Richard II and  Henry IV” ( Approaches to  Teaching Shakespeare’s English History Plays , edited by Laurie Ellinghausen, Modern Language Association of America, 2017, pp. 94–99).

The Chicago Manual of Style.  17th ed., U of Chicago P, 2017, www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed17/part2/ch06/psec127.html.

13 Comments

Pam 27 january 2020 at 04:01 pm.

Please advise as to whether semicolons should be used in a vertical list of names or only in a linear list of names. Thank you.

Your e-mail address will not be published

Jennifer A. Rappaport 28 January 2020 AT 07:01 AM

Thanks for your question. No punctuation is required in a vertical list of names.

C Haulenbeek 29 January 2020 AT 09:01 PM

In a bulleted list, are the entries single spaced or double spaced?

Jennifer A. Rappaport 30 January 2020 AT 07:01 AM

Thanks for your question. If your paper is double-spaced, you can double-space the list.

Mohamed Iliyas 05 October 2020 AT 05:10 AM

Should the list item numbers in vertical list be with period (1. list item) ? or it can be like '1) list item'. Thanks in advance.

Jennifer A. Rappaport 05 October 2020 AT 07:10 AM

Thanks for your question. The numbers in a numbered vertical list should be followed by a period, as shown in the example above.

John 30 October 2020 AT 12:10 PM

Is there a space between the heading and subpoints?

Jennifer A. Rappaport 02 November 2020 AT 07:11 AM

Yes, for readability, include a line space above and below a heading. See our post on headings: https://style.mla.org/styling-headings-and-subheadings/.

johanna 22 April 2021 AT 10:04 AM

I'm listing single words in a vertical list (with bullet points) which don't add up to form a full sentence. Should I capitalize the innitial letters? Should I use commas in my list?

e.g.: Complications include: - kidney failure - arrhythmia - re-operation - ...

Thanks in advance!

C. Barney Latimer 26 April 2021 AT 05:04 PM

As noted in the post, the items in a bulleted list of fragments generally start with lowercase letters, and no punctuation is needed after each item.

Aspen Anderson 04 June 2021 AT 05:06 PM

This info was incredibly helpful, thank you! How do you format it if each bullet has an intro concept/sentence, i.e. "1. Drink more water: When you drink water throughout the day..."

C. Barney Latimer 11 June 2021 AT 01:06 PM

If it’s important to begin an item in a vertical list with an introductory phrase or sentence, feel free to apply distinctive formatting (e.g., bold or italics) to the introductory wording, which should then be followed with a period. The example you’ve provided might therefore be formatted as follows: "1. Drink more water . When you drink water throughout the day..."

Virginia Kirk 16 May 2022 AT 05:05 PM

In your last example, "List Items Punctuated Like a Sentence," are you using the semi-colon because the last item in the list includes commas? Would you use the semi-colon in such a list if there were no commas in the last item?

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Can an Essay or Paper be written in Points or bullet format

• by Joshua Beshy
• September 30, 2022 October 11, 2022

Is it correct to write your essay in point form? The answer to this question is both yes and no. The reason is that you can write your essay in points or paragraphs, depending on what works for you.

Points happen to be handy and crucial when breaking a large text into smaller ones. For more information about how to write such write top-notch essays, continue reading this article.

Can an Essay be written in Points?

It depends entirely upon the style of the essay. Points are a distinct way to write, but they do not lend themselves well to the essay format.

An essay or a paper can be written in points if they must be included in that format to strengthen the argument or provide further evidence. However, in normal academic writing, an essay should be written in prose so as to explore an idea or a concept and present arguments based on facts and examples.

Essays seek to provide analysis and depth with the points made, rather than simply listing them. This is made in an argumentative way.

However, a point-based approach is one that utilizes the listing of points with little exploration of those points. That is the essence of making arguments and a thesis statement, which we discussed in a guide to writing good essays and papers.

How to Include your Main Points in an Essay

The main point is the purpose an author is trying to make with a piece of writing. The main points should appear in the thesis, or what the author is trying to prove.

First, make sure that the main points of your essay are clear.

Then, make a list of the main points you want to cover in your essay.

Next, decide what words or phrases will help you connect each of these main ideas to the remainder of the paragraph

Finally, once you are ready to include your main points, select one or more sentences from each paragraph and rewrite them with transitions included.

Write two to four sentences that support the main point. Support consists of facts, examples and explanations for why the main point matters.

Facts can include statistics (such as percentages), quotes from experts, and research findings.

Examples include personal anecdotes, historical events, and current events. But prose personal points are done in personal narratives. Read how to write personal narratives in essay writing.

Explanations show how and why something happened or is true. The most effective explanations delve into cause-and-effect relationships.

Incorporating main points into your essay will help the reader focus on the topic at hand. This will also help you make sure you are teaching your readers everything they need to know about the topic.

Before including your main points in an essay, it is essential that you observe the following approach: 

1. Begin with a topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the paragraph.

2. Transitions between introductory and body paragraphs should be clear and smooth.

3. Include transition words that add cohesion to the paragraph, such as first, furthermore, moreover and therefore.

4. Make sure that you use sentences that are varied in structure and length to maintain reader interest.

How to Use Bullet Points in an Essay

Bullet points work to draw attention to important information within a document so that a reader can identify the key issues and facts quickly.

There are no fixed rules about how to produce bullet points; it will depend on your topic, the discipline in which you are working, and your style. 

Using bullet points in academic paper writing is one way to present information clearly and logically.

When used properly, bullets can highlight important elements of a paper and make it easier to scan important details at a glance. 

However, there are some general principles that you can follow when creating bullet point lists as follows:  

• Limit each list to five or six items. It is better to create two separate lists than one long list of 10 bullet points or more. A long list of bullet points makes it difficult for readers to focus on the information you want them to remember most.
• Start each bullet point with the same style of punctuation mark (for example, all bullets should begin with letters, or all bullets should begin with numbers). You can also use all-capitalized letters or lowercase letters throughout your list, but don’t mix both styles in one list.
• Bullet points are essential if there is a sequence of information. Do not use them if you have one item with sub-items.
• Bullet points should work for the main headings in your text and not for long paragraphs.
• There should be at least two bullet points. If there is only one item then reword it so that it becomes part of a sentence.
• Provide the main idea in the first bullet point and follow with supporting information.

Can an Essay be written in bullet Points?

Yes, an essay can be written in bullet points, but this depends upon the type of essay you are going to write. If it is a narrative essay, then you should mention a story with the use of points. If it is an argumentative essay, then you can present your arguments in points. If it is a descriptive essay, then also you can describe your topic in points.

The only thing is that when writing an essay in points, you have to be more specific. You do not just come up with the points without any explanations or illustrations.

I am an educator with vast experience in learning and pedagogy. Currently, I write to help people discover creative and insightful ways to make learning simpler. When not working, I love playing soccer.

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > When and how to punctuate a list of bullet points

When and how to punctuate a list of bullet points

Using bullet points is a crafty way to make your writing more digestible. When you’re taking notes, creating a presentation , or writing articles, a bullet point list can help organize your content while calling attention to the most important details. There are different ways to write a bulleted list and different ways to punctuate one. Find out when and how you should add punctuation to your bullet point list.

What is a bullet point?

A bullet point is a symbol that you can use to create a list. Whether you’re writing a bulleted list or typing one, there are different symbols you can use. Dots, squares, diamonds, and the bullet symbol are just a few examples of the symbols you can incorporate in your list. You would place the symbol at the start of each idea in your list so that they’re distinguished from one another.

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When should you punctuate a list that has bullet points

There are instances where adding punctuation to a bullet point list is warranted. However, there are also times where the punctuation is unnecessary. You’ll want to add bullet point punctuation to your list when:

When the bullet point is a sentence

You’ll want to use basic grammar rules when writing a bullet point list. If the bullet point contains a sentence, you should add a period to the end of it like how you would with any other sentence you write. For example, if you’re describing what you saw at a local zoo, you could say:

Things I saw while I was at the zoo:

• A lioness licked her cub’s fur.
• A giraffe ate leaves off the tree.
• A polar bear walked in its cave.

All three bullet points include standalone sentences, and therefore, should have periods at the end of them.

When completing an introductory stem

If your bullet point list completes an introductory stem, you should add punctuation to it. Each item in your list forms a complete sentence when it’s paired with the introductory clause. For example, if you’re talking about planning a family vacation, you might say:

When planning a family vacation, I need to:

• buy new suitcases for the kids.
• find a dog sitter for Bruce.
• pack winter gloves for the family.

Because each bullet point forms a complete sentence when read with the introductory stem, you should add punctuation to the end of each item. However, note that the first word in each bullet point isn’t capitalized in this example. When you’re pairing the bullet point with another clause, you should lowercase the first word, unless it’s a proper noun, because a capitalized word wouldn’t normally appear in the middle of a standalone sentence.

Other rules for writing bullet point lists

Now that you know a little about bullet point punctuation, it’s important to know the instants where you won’t need to add punctuation.

When to omit punctuation

If neither of the above two rules apply, you more than likely won’t need to add punctuation to your bullet point list. Punctuation isn’t required if your bullet points aren’t complete sentences or paired with an introductory stem. For example, if you’re making a grocery shopping list, you could write:

Things I need to buy at the grocery store:

In this example, the bullet points aren’t complete sentences, so you don’t need to add punctuation to them. There also isn’t an introductory clause to pair them with, so you won’t need to add periods to the end of them.

Be consistent

Consistency is important when you’re writing a bullet point list. Don’t mix up sentences, introductory clauses, and single-word bullet points within the same list. You can follow the same punctuation guidelines when your bullet points are following the same format.

If you’re writing based on specific guidelines, there might be rules in place that tell you how you should punctuate bullet point lists. Check those guidelines first, and you should also check local style guides so that your writing is consistent with what’s been previously published. Applying the same punctuation rules to your writing ensures your writing is clear and organized without distracting the reader with small, inconsistent details.

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How to Write Bullet Points People Actually Want to Read

There are countless reasons why you’ll want to learn how to write bullet points.

Blog posts, tweets, and tens of thousands of images pinned to digital boards are flying past us faster than we can read them.

Faster than we can even scan them, depending on the time of day.

What does this mean for writers trying to cut through it all with attention grabbing techniques ? At least two things that I can think of:

• You’d better know how to write  magnetic headlines .
• You’d better know how to write bullet points that grab (and keep) attention.

We’re not telling you to keep your copy short. We’re telling you to keep your copy readable .

What are bullet points?

Bullet points are used to list out items in your content.

They help you effectively communicate your message because they capture the attention of readers who prefer scannable content . Think about it … scanners love bullet points, right?

A bulleted list can also break up long blocks of text, and the intriguing phrases you use in your bullet points are opportunities to turn scanners into readers.

Like it or not, they keep people engaged with your blog posts, pages, articles, and copy for your online business ideas like nothing else.

Let’s take a quick look at how to get this done, and get it done well.

The basics of writing bullet points that work

The essence of a great bullet is brevity + promise.

Brevity has been a hallmark of good writing since writing began, but everyone currently possesses an acute awareness of just how important brevity is right now.

Long, complex bullet points would defeat the purpose of writing bullets at all — to keep your reader moving through your copy.

Promise is the element that hooks your reader like a fish. You’re making a plain and legitimate claim that your product/idea/service will give them what they’ve been looking for.

Goes without saying (but of course I’m going to say it anyway), you absolutely must deliver on the promise you make .

There are probably faster ways of ruining your credibility and career, but not giving your reader what you promised is definitely in the top three.

Brian Clark wrote the definitive “ Bullet Points 101 ” post more than 10 years ago.

And, since I’d rather straight-up steal from Clark than try to outwrite him in this area, here’s his five-part summary of when to use bullet points, as well as what an effective bullet point is and does.

A bullet expresses a clear benefit and promise to the reader

That’s right … they’re mini-headlines.

Bullets encourage the scanning reader to go back into the real meat of your content, or go forward with your call to action.

Keep your bullet points symmetrical if possible

Meaning, one line each, two lines each, etc. It’s easier on the eyes and therefore easier on the reader.

Avoid bullet clutter at all costs

Do not get into a detailed outline jumble of subtitles, bullets, and sub-bullets. Bullets are designed for clarity, not confusion.

Practice parallelism

Keep your bullet groups thematically related, begin each bullet with the same part of speech, and maintain the same grammatical form.

Remember that bullets (like headlines) are not necessarily sentences

If you want to write complete sentences, stick with a paragraph or a numbered list.

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Punctuation in bulleted lists

Since the text that comes after a bullet point shouldn’t look like a paragraph, you might be wondering about how to handle punctuation in bulleted lists.

It depends on the type of bullets that you write, but the key is to keep your punctuation consistent. Your bullet points should more or less be the same style and length.

Do you capitalize bullet points?

You can capitalize the first word that follows a bullet point in your content.

However, if each of your bullet points is only one word, you could keep the letters all lowercase.

Again, whichever style you choose, just make sure you’re consistent throughout your text.

Should bullet points have periods?

If your bullet points end up being short sentences, you’ll want to add periods after each one. In this case, you see why you’d capitalize the first word after a bullet point.

If the bullet points are just short phrases or incomplete sentences, they don’t need periods.

Now that we’re standing on a firm foundation, let’s move into how to actually write these bullets.

8 examples of bullet points that work

You may have seen writers complain about the proliferation of “listicles” in recent years.

The thing is, the elitists don’t know what they’re talking about. Again, in this fast, short, and constantly evolving digital world, she who makes sense first, wins.

And one of the best ways to make sense of content ideas — especially online — is not to dumb them down; it’s to break them up into digestible chunks.

Bullet points can be a great way to do that — but don’t just rely on the stale, simplistic bullet point types you’re using now.

Expand your range and add these to your toolbox when you’re writing copy .

1. External fascinations

These types of fascinating bullet points are usually found in sales copy. They create curiosity and work like headlines to prompt a purchase or other action.

2. Internal fascinations

Internal fascinations are pretty much identical to external, except they’re designed to persuade people to continue reading the post they’re already reading.

3. Bullet chunking

Extracting bullets out of compound sentences helps you drive home a point while also increasing the usability of your content.

4. Authority bullets

Authority bullets are used to recite the data and proof that support your argument. As with all persuasive writing, turn dry factual information into interesting reading any time you can.

5. Cliffhanger bullets

Cliffhanger bullets tease and foreshadow what’s coming up next or in the near future. You can also use cliffhanger bullets to lay the groundwork for an upcoming promotion, launch, or special content event.

And — as a little bonus about how to write bullet points — Ben Settle expanded on Brian’s post with a few more examples of his own.

Here’s a few of Ben’s favorite bullet point secrets .

6. Give-away bullets

These are sort of like the lady who hands out cheese cubes at the grocery store.

She gives people a little “taste” of food that keeps them alert and shopping — and many times they end up with the thing they tasted in the shopping cart.

7. Expansion bullets

These bullets break up the “sameness” of the page (when you have several pages of bullets), and they add more tease, demonstration, and curiosity.

Plus, they give a nice little “loop” effect to your ad that keeps sucking the reader back in.

8. “Can’t be done” bullets

Basically, this is where you say something that is almost unbelievable.

Something 100% true, but that is so wacky and “out there” it makes you say, “How in the heck can you do that?”

Congratulations, you now know more about how to write bullet points than most working copywriters .

And here’s the simplest shortcut to jump start you in the art of the bullet …

Try this simple shortcut for writing bullet points that work

Craft each bullet as if it were to serve as your your headline.

The goal here is to achieve, uh … headlineability with each bullet.

You won’t achieve perfection with each and every bullet you write, but if you stick to this principle generally , writing them gets much easier over time.

And, more importantly, those beautiful little bulleted lines will keep your readers running down your page like water on a slide.

Robert Bruce

Robert Bruce files unusually short stories to the Internet daily, from an undisclosed location near you. Good luck.

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Reader Interactions

Reader comments (60).

February 7, 2012 at 6:30 am

Nice tips. Great bullet points make for compelling lists and to the point articles.

February 7, 2012 at 9:14 am

Okay – fine – you got me! I actually learned something from this. AND, me, the notorious bullet point shooter-downer, I am actually convinced that bullet points might just work in my own website copy, IF I could learn to implement a few of these strategies.

Now could I just make one teensy little suggestion? Could you make your links open in a new window? I’d like to read the articles you suggest – later. Thank you!

February 7, 2012 at 11:56 am

Michelle, a counter-suggestion, right-click on the links (you can even do it on a Mac now, yay) and you can choose to open in a new tab or a new window. Some users love opening new windows and some hate it, so we let the reader decide for herself. 🙂

February 7, 2012 at 6:05 pm

This reader absolutely loves that option, Sonia! 🙂

February 7, 2012 at 10:41 am

Great post! You kept your promise and taught me something that was factual, gave evidence to support your claim and overdelivered on your promise to deliver great content by providing several more links to other resources supporting the post. Awesome!…but you knew that.

February 7, 2012 at 11:14 am

Nice post, Jeff. Hey, I just posted a post to my own post. Dammit. I hate these foggy early mornings. What? It’s afternoon?

February 7, 2012 at 11:58 am

I transcribe, by hand outstanding bullet points to index cards. I have a about 300, mostly harvested from high converting, long form sales letters from Halbert, Pagan, Carlson and the like. There is definitely a rhythm to writing good bullet points. I feel when it when I’m transcribing.

February 7, 2012 at 11:59 am

THANK YOU! Great article and I really appreciate the detailed explanations and links to further information!

February 7, 2012 at 2:11 pm

Is it me or did anyone else find it odd that a post about bullet points contained no bullet points? Good article 🙂

February 7, 2012 at 2:24 pm

It did, but they had numbers instead of bullets. 🙂

February 7, 2012 at 2:28 pm

Didn’t realize there was so much to know about using bulleted posts. Each one like a headline – that’s a great point I’ll have to practice. Awesome post. Great links – I’ll be coming back to this one over and over.

February 7, 2012 at 3:07 pm

I admit it — I love bullet points & blockquotes. . . anything to make a blog post look more interesting.

February 7, 2012 at 7:19 pm

Subheads are great as well. 🙂 Breaking that page up really helps readers stay tuned in.

February 7, 2012 at 5:02 pm

I love bullet points! There’s a good reason why you see them everywhere. They work! They work even better than storytelling does IMO. Thank you for a post with good, usable insights on them.

February 7, 2012 at 5:36 pm

Who would have thought writing great bullet points would be * So detailed * So nuanced, and * So powerful Thanks for a post that is going to my evernote file:)

February 7, 2012 at 11:25 pm

I’m so glad I came across this article. I never know what to write when I’m on Twitter or Facebook lol This article makes it seem so easy. All I need to do is remember to write a great heading, and use bullet points. Couldn’t be anymore simple, thanks so much 🙂

February 7, 2012 at 11:54 pm

Super helpful post.

I feel the focus on benefits is uber critical. Some bullet into features. Nope. You think in terms of benefits, not features. Focus on points which move people emotionally, to want to learn more, continue reading the post and take your call to action. Enter benefits.

The can’t be done bullets vibe strongly with me. Any point which makes people think is a powerful point, any point which is a head scratcher. It’s like an instant hook, pulling readers in to learn more, dig more.

Thanks for sharing your insight Robert.

February 8, 2012 at 3:15 am

I know bullet points are great…I’ve always known that. But the proliferation of posts which are nothing but bullet points can be really exhausting. So I’ve tried to stay off that. But with this post, I think I will actually try it now. What I got from this is that it’s actually possible to write a post of bullet points that teaches and informs. Thanks for writing this.

February 8, 2012 at 12:33 pm

I agree, Sharon. Bullet points are like salt: they should be used sparingly, and only when needed. They’re great for quickly explaining certain things, and break up a long page of text nicely; but we shouldn’t forget about things like headings or even simple paragraph breaks — both of which Robert’s article uses well.

Certainly some great tips here. Thanks for sharing them, Robert!

February 8, 2012 at 4:04 am

I love bullet points. They’re like a cherry on a sundae. The sweetest part of the entire package.

Favorite part: ‘she who makes sense first, wins” I knew women always made the most sense 😉

February 8, 2012 at 4:41 am

When you are writing an article or a sales page for your website you have to be able to emphasize the points of your article the best way you can so that people understand what you’re trying to say. You bullet points are going to describe your material to the letter. It is going to tell people what you have to offer them and how are you going to help them. Some people are better at this then others, but it is an acquired skill that anyone can learn if you are willing to put in a little work to get good at it. Being able to write good bullet points will assist you in many ways if you plan on marketing online or even just being a good writer period.

February 8, 2012 at 5:38 am

Bullet points interspersed with paraghraphs works for me. Write a paragraph first, break into another one, then another one and so on. When you feel like you are about to lose the reader, include a few bullet points. That ought to hit the spot, to be sure. The key is to find the right balance. Balanced writing means that it works for you and your readers or target audience. Too few bullet points can be just as bad as including too many bullet points. Hope this makes sense. I appreciate the fact that you contributed this wonderful guest post on this fab blog. Please keep up the good work. Cheerio.

February 8, 2012 at 11:21 am

• Lots • of • great • info • here!

February 9, 2012 at 6:45 pm

Thanks for the shot of inspiration and the humiliating realization that I violate just about every tenet in your post on a regular basis. Cheers.

February 10, 2012 at 1:15 pm

Excellent post. A day before I was just arguing with my friend about bullet points ( imagine that 🙂 ) and this article made my day )

February 11, 2012 at 7:59 pm

Awesome and so right 🙂

February 20, 2012 at 6:59 pm

By all means make sure it is content and information which no one will have ever read before and make sure that they will want to have a good read….

March 16, 2012 at 1:07 pm

That makes me think of how many words you actually use when writing bullet points and also what’s the tone of your blog posts. Are your bullet points and posts filled with the word: “I” and it’s all about you? It’s not about you. It’s all about them. To have really effective engagement in your bullet points you have to earn their attention. To do this, you need to talk about them. To have your bullet points truly engage you need to change your “I-You ratio.” You start with the word “You,” and then use it a dozen more times then you use the word “I.” And that will help your engagement and getting the readers interest. That will help you to become more relevant and read.

What are you going to do for them? What have you got to offer them? This isn’t about manipulation. It’s about being genuine. You need to actually serve the people with whom you are in conversation. If you want them to focus their attention on your words in your bullet points and blog posts, you must genuinely show your intention to meet their needs like Bruce suggests.

This article's comments are closed.

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• Presentation and Formatting

Best Practices for Bullet Points

The days of long sentences in long paragraphs are long gone. Our readers need to retrieve information fast. An excellent way to help them do this is to lay out information in bulleted lists.

Definition: A “bullet point” is an item introduced by a dot (“bullet”) or a similar icon, like this:

• This is an example of a bullet point.

Here are 10 tips for creating crisp, clear bullet points.

Use bullet points to list features, steps, or tips, like this list.

• Emphasize the beginning of the bullet point, as in this list, when the first few words capture the main idea. That way, readers can skim easily. Use bold type, italics, or underlining for emphasis.
• Make bullet points consistent in structure. For example, make all of them sentences or fragments or questions. However, if you have two sets of bullet points in a document, you don’t need to make them consistent with each other–just within themselves. This usually easy to do by properly introducing your bullet points .
• Punctuate bullets consistently. That is, if one bullet ends with a period (full stop), end all with a period, following these rules: a. If all bullets are sentences, end each one with a period (full stop). b. If all bullets are phrases or fragments, use no end punctuation.Here is a helpful piece on how to format bulleted lists .
• Avoid ending bullet points with semicolons. Semicolons have been used that way, but the style seems old-fashioned in today’s crisp documents.
• Avoid making bullet points so long that they look like paragraphs. Three lines is a reasonable maximum length.
• Number bullet points when you have many –more than five or so. That way your readers can easily track the bullets and refer to them.
• Avoid using transition words and phrases such as “secondly” or “another point.” Such linking phrases are unnecessary, and they slow down readers.
• Be sure bullet points are related , especially if you have a lot of them. When you have many, you may need two sets instead of one. For example, if your bullets contain a blend of advantages and opportunities, break them into two lists, with one labeled Advantages and another labeled Opportunities .
• Avoid bullet points when you want to build rapport or deal with a sensitive issue. Bullets communicate efficiency rather than warmth.
• Lay out bullet points cleanly. Avoid a variety of fonts or a mix of margins.

Besides helping your readers skim for information, bullet points make life easier for you as a writer. With bullet points, you can use simple structures and punctuation, and you don’t need to worry about how your sentences flow from one item to the next.

This post (the piece you are reading now) would have been much longer and more challenging to write if I had composed it as an essay. Did you find this one easy to skim?

Further reading: Punctuating Bullet Points

If the bullets are not punctuated in between, do you place a period at the end of the last bullet, if the end of the sentence is there?

Mary Kay, good question! No, odd as it seems, there is no punctuation after the last bullet. Thanks for asking.

If the bullet points are fragments or phrases should they still start with a capital letter?

Rob, reference books differ on this question. “The Gregg Reference Manual” capitalizes all bullets. “The Chicago Manual of Style” capitalizes bulleted fragments only when they are in numbered lists. So if you were to use fragments with simple bullets (no numbers), “Chicago” would advise you to make them lower case.

I follow “Gregg” because I like the consistency of all bullet points being capitalized.

Here is the case: A bullet point includes 2 sentences, this being the only exception along all the other bullet points that would be fragments. Can I keep this bullet point without a period at the end for consistency purpose? One example is: – Quick-drying, water-based ink resists smearing. Writing won’t bleed through paper Can I leave this bullet point without a period at the end if all the other bullet points do not end with one? Thanks much!

Your two-sentence bullet will seem weird without a period at the end, especially with a period between its two sentences. You could try to make the bullet into a fragment, something like this:

Quick-drying water-based ink–less smearing, no bleed-through writing

I’m wondering why all the others are fragments and this one isn’t. I would prefer consistency.

Hi! Can a bullet point includes just one sentence or phrase? Or does it has to include at least 2 sentences or phrases?

Emanuel, people argue over this question. My view is that using a bullet is a design decision. If you have just one point you want to set off in a bullet, fine–use just one bullet. Other people, however, feel that bullets should be reserved for lists and that “list” means more than one item. I believe a list can have just one item–my shopping list or to-do list, for example.

Hi, Is it ever possible to begin bullet points with small case letters (e.g. if they end the sentence which introduces the bullet points)?

Thanks for your help.

Anna, capitalization depends on which style you follow. I follow “The Gregg Reference Manual” and the “Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications.” Both of them capitalize all bullet points. “The Chicago Manual of Style,” however, capitalizes bullet points only in certain circumstances. If you followed “Chicago,” you would not capitalize list items that complete the introductory words.

Hope that helps.

How would you recommend incorporating exclamation points into bulleted lists? It seems appropriate to include them even in fragmented lists that have no end punctuation on other lines. What is your sense?

Geoff, it is hard to imagine using an exclamation at the end of a bullet point, if the other points don’t have end punctuation. Maybe in parentheses?

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Best practice for writing and formatting bulleted lists

November 20, 2022 by David Barden

Bulleted lists are great for breaking up long lists into manageable chunks and for making your copy easier to scan. But are you getting the most out of this useful format? Follow these 12 tips for writing and formatting bulleted lists, and your key points are guaranteed to come across more strongly.

Take your time over bulleted lists

When presenting a set of related ideas, categories, features or benefits, the bulleted list is a winner on several levels. Not only is a bulleted list more visually appealing than a solid wall of text, but it helps the reader by breaking a complex chunk of information down into simpler elements.

But although writing out a bulleted list might seem like a quick job, doing it well requires considerable thought. To help you ensure that your next one works well, I’d like to share this checklist of best-practices for writing and formatting bulleted lists in your copy.

#1: Avoid more than seven items in a bulleted list

The first point is a structural one – don’t list too many things at once. A long bulleted list is certainly better than the same information presented as a solid paragraph, but the more items there are, the less engaging the list is, and the less likely it is that the reader will spot the points that interest them.

So keep your bulleted list to a maximum of about seven entries, and if it’s more, ask yourself, are all of those points really necessary? And if they are, would splitting up the list under separate headers make the individual entries easier to find?

#2: Use bullet-points with visual impact

Round solid bullet-points are the default option for many, but it’s worth trying other symbols if they’re available ( see below ). I quite like the filled square, the right-hand arrowhead, and the right-hand French angular quotation mark, while the check-mark is familiar in lists of benefits or included features. You could even go for custom bullet-points that mirror your brand, so long as they’re not too elaborate.

Make sure the size is appropriate too – symbols that are too large can look clunky and amateurish, whereas symbols that are too small will lack impact.

#3: Avoid sub-bullets

Word-processing packages typically offer tempting options for formatting bulleted lists at multiple levels, but in practice you should only use them when you absolutely have to. The more complex your bulleted list, the less understandable it will be at first glance.

However, if you do decide to go down this route, I’d recommend using a different symbol with a reduced weighting or size, such as the en-dash, the right-hand angle-bracket, or the open circle (see below). This prevents them distracting attention away from the top-level entries.

#4: Pick a strong colour

Having your bullet-points the same colour as the body text is the norm, but in a piece of company literature, using the brand colour for the bullet-point symbols gives a more professional touch.

Many brands have complementary colours, and if this is sufficiently strong, then it can help draw attention to the bulleted list without causing a colour clash.

#5: Adjust the indents and spacing carefully

Indents are normally handled well enough using the default settings for bulleted lists, so there’s no excuse for badly indented text or inconsistent alignment. I like to indent the bullet-points themselves by a few points compared to the body copy, as this is more visually pleasing.

Sub-bullets should be indented further in, and it’s worth experimenting with the settings so that you achieve a satisfactory alignment that doesn’t distract the reader.

Also ensure that the paragraph space between separate bulleted items is sufficient to avoid a text pile-up. If the entries themselves are short, a spacing that is a bit less than the regular paragraph spacing helps to keep the list looking coherent.

#6: Keep the text as short as possible

Moving on to the text itself, and the impact of bullet-points is greatly reduced if each bulleted item drags on for several lines. I’d recommend a maximum of four lines of text per item, and preferably just one or two.

Also, try and keep each bulleted item about the same length – switching from short text to long text is distracting, and may give a misleading impression of the importance of the entries.

#7: Use lead-ins for longer entries

If the text of your bulleted items is relatively complex, and you can’t reduce the word-count, then a good tactic is the lead-in . This is a few words formatted in bold at the start of each item, usually followed by a colon, full-stop or en-dash (scroll down to see the example in the graphic below). You will, however, need to phrase the lead-ins carefully so that the reader doesn’t lose track of what you’re saying.

#8: Use a consistent text structure

Speaking of phrasing, a vital aspect of bullet-points (in my opinion) is parallelism . This is writing the text so that each bulleted item starts with the same part of speech (e.g. verb, adjective, noun, adverb), and ideally uses the same sentence structure. Following this rule lends emphasis to what you’re saying, makes it easier to scan, and avoids mismatched phrasing between the introduction to the bulleted list and the list itself.

Start each bulleted item with the same part of speech to make your bulleted list easier to scan

#9: Use punctuation consistently

There are various styles of punctuation used for bulleted lists, but one thing is clear: in running text, you should always introduce your the list with a colon (:). The semicolon (;), although widely used, is incorrect.

As for the punctuation should you use at the end of items in your bulleted list, being consistent shows off your attention to detail. There are three options:

• Nothing: recommended for single words or short entries.
• Full-stop: recommended for longer entries or complete sentences, and optional at the end of the last item in any list.
• Semi-colon: archaic and best avoided, along with the “and” at the end of the penultimate item.

Ultimately, you should avoid any usage that distracts from the text – if it looks odd, then change it!

#10: Use initial capitals

Starting each bulleted item with a capital letter is recommended in nearly all instances. But where the bulleted items ‘run on’ from the body text above, then lower-case can make it clear that the sentences are intended to be read in that way. I’ve shown an example of this in tip #11.

#11: Use them for the right reasons

The tips above cover how to use bullet-points, but when should you use them?

I think you should consider using a bulleted list:

• where you need to highlight a range of ideas, options, features or benefits
• where the entire list is worthy of attention
• where the items can be conveyed concisely
• where the items are logically distinct
• where listing the points in the body text would be cumbersome.

If any of these don’t apply, then check that a bulleted list really is the right way forward. If your message makes more sense as body copy, it’s probably better that way.

#12: Don’t overuse them

And one final word: because the eye is naturally drawn towards bulleted lists, using them too liberally will reduce their impact. So use them only where necessary, and where they don’t vie for attention with other elements of your copy.

Battling with bullet-points? If you need help structuring your message for easy understanding, please get in touch.

How to Correctly Punctuate Bullet Point Lists

Table of Contents

Let’s tackle the ending punctuation of each bullet first., should the first letter of the bullet list be capitalized, should the opening stem sentence end with a colon to introduce the bullet lists, does this matter.

How to punctuate bullet lists can be tricky because various style guides contradict each other.

Use a period after every bullet that is a sentence or after a bullet list that completes the opening stem sentence that introduces it. Don’t use a period if the bullet lists are one word or a short phrase that feels like an inventory or shopping list

This grammar guide accompanies our post on how to write better bullet points .

We have three punctuation issues to consider:

Should the ending punctuation at the end of each bullet list be a period, a semicolon, or no punctuation?

Should the opening stem sentence end with a colon to introduce the bullet lists or use no colon?

Let me frame my recommendations. You are reading a blog that focuses on business writing. The most accepted style guide in business writing and web publishing is the AP Stylebook . We recommend following the AP Stylebook ’s bullet punctuation, with additional clarifications that AP doesn’t address. 

Learn more about how to write better bullet lists.

By far, this is the most vexing punctuation issue!

AP Stylebook recommends:

“Capitalize the first word following the dash or bullet. Use periods, not semicolons, at the end of each section or a phrase.” This is clear, but AP doesn’t fully address when to omit a period at the end of each bullet.

The Gregg Reference Manual uses periods only after bullets that are dependent clauses and long phrases.

Garner's Modern American Usage inserts periods at the end of bullet lists only if the bullet list begins with a capital letter. However, Garner qualifies this:

"If you begin each item with a lowercase letter, put a semicolon at the end of each item, use and after the next-to-last item, and put a period after the last item." Garner calls this "vertical lists punctuated as a sentence." This is where the semicolon confusion comes in.

The Chicago Manual of Style has pages of rules and examples of bullet lists that agree with the Garner style recommendation to use semicolons after each item, use and after the next-to-last-item, and use a period at the end of the last item. 

Here is an example of that style:

I love traveling to Ireland because of its: connection to my family; beautiful green scenery; and friendly, fun, welcoming people.

I do not recommend this “vertical lists punctuated as a sentence” format with semicolons for business writing. It’s visually cluttered, impeding easy scan. While it’s not wrong and some style guides recommend this, it’s not the best business writing choice. 

I recommend AP ’s style guidance for end punctuation:

• Use a period or other full stop after every bullet that is a sentence. (Just like this bullet list you’re reading now.)
• Use a period after a bullet list that completes the opening stem sentence that introduces it.
• Don’t use a period after bullet lists that are not complete sentences or do not complete the opening stem sentence. 
• Don’t use semicolons to end punctuation. 
• Use either all full sentences in your bullet lists or all fragments. Avoid a mix.

Learn how to use correct punctuation every time.

Our grammar and proofreading course will help you create flawless documents every time.

All of these recommendations follow AP , but one clarification is needed. Don’t use a period at the end of a bullet if the bullet lists are one word or a short phrase that feels like an inventory or shopping list. 

Here is an example of bullet lists that need a period to complete the introductory stem sentence:

I love traveling to Ireland because of its: Connection to my family. Beautiful green scenery. Friendly, fun, welcoming people.

Here is an example of bullets lists that do not need a period because they are fragments not connected to the introductory stem sentence:

These are reasons I love traveling to Ireland: Connection to my family Beautiful green scenery Friendly, fun, welcoming people

Here is an example of bullet lists that do not need a period because they’re one word or a short phrase that feels like an inventory or shopping list:

I love traveling to Ireland because of its: Natural beauty Friendly people Music Brown bread Rainbows History

This issue is straightforward. Yes. In business writing, capitalize the first letter of bullet lists. 

All style guides agree to capitalize the first letter of the bullet list unless you opt for the "vertical lists punctuated as a sentence" format using semicolons, illustrated above.

Good business writing seeks to make information easy to understand. It’s illogical to use semicolons and “vertical lists punctuated as sentences” in business writing because it’s visually cluttered so it’s harder to scan. 

Problem solved. In business writing, capitalize the first letter and keep bullet list punctuation clean.

Another easy decision. In business writing, yes, use a colon at the end of the introductory stem sentence. 

I love traveling to Ireland because of its: [ AP , Garner , and Gregg use the colon here. Chicago Manual of Style does not. Again, style guides don’t agree.] Connection to my family. Beautiful green scenery. Friendly, fun, welcoming people.

Because AP recommends the colon and AP is the preferred business writing style guide, I recommend using it consistently in your business writing. 

Not using a colon isn’t wrong, but omit it only with certainty that you comply with the style guide of your choice. 

Are we nitpicking punctuation with these considerations of bullet lists? Certainly, your business writing’s substance and information are far more critical than exacting punctuation that technically is neither correct nor incorrect since style guides vary. 

However, clear bullet list punctuation adds visual “scan-ability” to your business writing. It makes it easier for your reader. Careful punctuation also reflects thought and care. 

If you feel punctuation does not matter, consider the impact of punctuation in these bullet lists:

• A woman without her man is nothing. 
• A woman. Without her, man is nothing.

If you want to take a deep dive into grammar and learn how to apply the many rules to your business writing, our online Proofreading and Grammar Course is perfect for you. You'll get instructor feedback on your actual writing and an individualized grammar correction plan.

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How to Punctuate and Capitalize Bullet Points

4-minute read

• 9th March 2020

Everyone loves a vertical list. They’re easy to read. They look good. Why wouldn’t you want to add a list to your work ? The tricky thing is punctuation. Do you need a colon to introduce a list? Should each point start with a capital letter and end with a period? So many choices to make!

To help, we’ve prepared a guide to punctuating and capitalizing bullet points.

Introducing a List: Do You Need a Colon?

When a vertical list follows a full sentence, introduce it with a colon .

There are two main methods available:

• Qualitative interviews with key staff members.
• Quantitative surveys involving all stakeholders.

You can also use a colon after a partial sentence.

Available methods include:

However, you can omit the colon when a list follows a partial sentence.

Available methods include

This is ultimately a matter of stylistic preference. But if you are using a style guide, you may want to check it for guidance on which style to use.

Punctuating Bullet Points: Do You Need Periods?

We’re often asked whether you need a period at the end of each entry in a list. And, as a guideline, we’d suggest punctuating bullet points as follows:

• When listing full sentences , use a period for each entry (like here).
• For lists with longer sentence fragments , periods are optional.
• For a mix of fragments and full sentences , use a period at the end of each entry (just as you would for a list of full sentences).
• When listing single words or short phrases , there’s no need for a period.

However, this again comes down to preference and your chosen style guide. The key thing is applying a clear and consistent punctuation style to all lists.

Semicolons and Commas in Lists

Although a little old-fashioned, some people like to use semicolons or commas in lists. This is usually done when each list entry finishes an introductory phrase, as shown below:

Over the weekend, I have

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• Taken the dog for a walk by the river;
• Attended a dance class with Yvonne; and
• Made a spaghetti carbonara.

The idea is that the list reads like a single sentence, with semicolons separating each point, a conjunction just before the final entry, and a period at the end.

We could also write this list with commas instead of semicolons.

• Taken the dog for a walk by the river,
• Attended a dance class with Yvonne, and

These are perfectly acceptable, and some style guides suggest writing lists like this. However, most people now leave out the extra punctuation.

Capitalizing Bullet Points

Finally, should you capitalize the first letter of each entry in a vertical list? And if so, when? This is another case where there are no hard rules! If you have a list of full sentences – or a list with a mix of full sentences and fragments – we suggest capitalizing the first letter in each item.

Activities for this weekend:

• Howl at the moon on the strike of midnight.
• Take grandmother for lunch.
• Dance on the graves of my enemies.
• Introspective sitting and drinking.

For lists of fragments, short phrases, or words, capitalization is optional:

My favorite fruits include:

• dragon fruit
• Dragon fruit

As with the other optional punctuation above, though, make sure to use a consistent capitalization style throughout your writing. And if you’d like any more help with the punctuation and capitalization of lists in a document, don’t forget we have proofreaders available 24/7 !

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26 Types of Punctuation Marks & Typographical Symbols

• What Is Punctuation?
• What Is A Typographical Symbol?
• Punctuation Vs. Typographical Symbols
• Types Of Punctuation And Symbols
• Try Grammar Coach

We use words in writing. Shocking, I know! Do you know what else we use in writing? Here is a hint: they have already appeared in this paragraph. In addition to words, we use many different symbols and characters to organize our thoughts and make text easier to read. All of these symbols come in two major categories: punctuation marks and typographical symbols . These symbols have many different uses and include everything from the humble period ( . ) to the rarely used caret symbol ( ^ ). There may even be a few symbols out there that you’ve never even heard of before that leave you scratching your head when you see them on your keyboard!

What is punctuation ?

Punctuation is the act or system of using specific marks or symbols in writing to separate different elements from each other or to make writing more clear. Punctuation is used in English and the other languages that use the Latin alphabet. Many other writing systems also use punctuation, too. Thanks to punctuation, we don’t have to suffer through a block of text that looks like this:

• My favorite color is red do you like red red is great my sister likes green she always says green is the color of champions regardless of which color is better we both agree that no one likes salmon which is a fish and not a color seriously

Punctuation examples

The following sentences give examples of the many different punctuation marks that we use:

• My dog , Bark Scruffalo , was featured in a superhero movie . 
• If there ’ s something strange in your neighborhood , who are you going to call ?
• A wise man once said , “ Within the body of every person lies a skeleton .”
• Hooray ! I found everything on the map : the lake , the mountain , and the forest . 
• I told Ashley ( if that was her real name ) that I needed the copy lickety-split .

What is a typographical symbol ?

The term typographical symbol , or any other number of phrases, refers to a character or symbol that isn’t considered to be a punctuation mark but may still be used in writing for various purposes. Typographical symbols are generally avoided in formal writing under most circumstances. However, you may see typographic symbols used quite a bit in informal writing.

Typographical symbol examples

The following examples show some ways that a writer might use typographical symbols. Keep in mind that some of these sentences may not be considered appropriate in formal writing.

• The frustrated actor said she was tired of her co-star’s “annoying bull **** .”
• For questions, email us at anascabana @ bananacabanas.fake!
• The band had five # 1 singles on the American music charts during the 1990s.
• My internet provider is AT & T.

⚡️ Punctuation vs. typographical symbols

Punctuation marks are considered part of grammar and often have well-established rules for how to use them properly. For example, the rules of proper grammar state that a letter after a period should be capitalized and that a comma must be used before a coordinating conjunction.

Typographical symbols, on the other hand, may not have widely accepted rules for how, or even when, they should be used. Generally speaking, most grammar resources will only allow the use of typographical symbols under very specific circumstances and will otherwise advise a writer to avoid using them.

Types of punctuation and symbols

There are many different types of punctuation marks and typographical symbols. We’ll briefly touch on them now, but you can learn more about these characters by checking out the links in this list and also each section below:

• Question mark
• Exclamation point
• Parentheses
• Square brackets
• Curly brackets
• Angle brackets
• Quotation marks
• Bullet point
• Pound symbol
• Caret symbol
• Pipe symbol

Period, question mark, and exclamation point

These three commonly used punctuation marks are used for the same reason: to end an independent thought.

A period is used to end a declarative sentence . A period indicates that a sentence is finished.

• Today is Friday .

Unique to them, periods are also often used in abbreviations.

• Prof . Dumbledore once again awarded a ludicrous amount of points to Gryffindor.

Question mark (?)

The question mark is used to end a question, also known as an interrogative sentence .

• Do you feel lucky ?

Exclamation point (!)

The exclamation point is used at the end of exclamations and interjections .

• Our house is haunted ! 

Comma, colon, and semicolon

Commas, colons, and semicolons can all be used to connect sentences together.

The comma is often the punctuation mark that gives writers the most problems. It has many different uses and often requires good knowledge of grammar to avoid making mistakes when using it. Some common uses of the comma include:

• Joining clauses: Mario loves Peach , and she loves him . 
• Nonrestrictive elements: My favorite team , the Fighting Mongooses , won the championship this year.
• Lists: The flag was red , white , and blue.
• Coordinate adjectives: The cute , happy puppy licked my hand.

Try out this quiz on the Oxford comma!

The colon is typically used to introduce additional information.

• The detective had three suspects : the salesman, the gardener, and the lawyer.

Like commas, colons can also connect clauses together.

• We forgot to ask the most important question : who was buying lunch?

Colons have a few other uses, too.

• The meeting starts at 8:15 p.m.
• The priest started reading from Mark 3:6 .

Semicolon (;)

Like the comma and the colon, the semicolon is used to connect sentences together. The semicolon typically indicates that the second sentence is closely related to the one before it.

• I can’t eat peanuts ; I am highly allergic to them.
• Lucy loves to eat all kinds of sweets ; lollipops are her favorite.

Hyphen and dashes (en dash and em dash)

All three of these punctuation marks are often referred to as “dashes.” However, they are all used for entirely different reasons.

The hyphen is used to form compound words.

• I went to lunch with my father-in-law .
• She was playing with a jack-in-the-box .
• He was accused of having pro-British sympathies.

En dash (–)

The en dash is used to express ranges or is sometimes used in more complex compound words.

• The homework exercises are on pages 20–27 .
• The songwriter had worked on many Tony Award–winning productions.

Em dash (—)

The em dash is used to indicate a pause or interrupted speech.

• The thief was someone nobody expected —me !
• “Those kids will— ” was all he managed to say before he was hit by a water balloon.

Test your knowledge on the different dashes here.

Parentheses, brackets, and braces

These pairs of punctuation marks look similar, but they all have different uses. In general, the parentheses are much more commonly used than the others.

Parentheses ()

Typically, parentheses are used to add additional information.

• I thought (for a very long time) if I should actually give an honest answer.
• Tomorrow is Christmas (my favorite holiday) !

Parentheses have a variety of other uses, too.

• Pollution increased significantly. (See Chart 14B)
• He was at an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting.
• Richard I of England (1157–1199) had the heart of a lion.

Square brackets []

Typically, square brackets  are used to clarify or add information to quotations.

• According to an eyewitness, the chimpanzees “climbed on the roof and juggled [bananas] .”
• The judge said that “the defense attorney [Mr. Wright] had made it clear that the case was far from closed.”

Curly brackets {}

Curly brackets , also known as braces , are rarely used punctuation marks that are used to group a set.

• I was impressed by the many different colors {red, green, yellow, blue, purple, black, white} they selected for the flag’s design.

Angle brackets <>

Angle brackets have no usage in formal writing and are rarely ever used even in informal writing. These characters have more uses in other fields, such as math or computing.

Quotation marks and apostrophe

You’ll find these punctuation marks hanging out at the top of a line of text.

Quotation marks (“”)

The most common use of quotation marks is to contain quotations.

• She said, “ Don’t let the dog out of the house. ”
• Bob Ross liked to put “ happy little trees ” in many of his paintings.

Apostrophe (‘)

The apostrophe is most often used to form possessives and contractions.

• The house ’ s back door is open.
• My cousin ’ s birthday is next week.
• It isn ’ t ready yet.
• We should ’ ve stayed outside.

Slash and ellipses

These are two punctuation marks you may not see too often, but they are still useful.

The slash has several different uses. Here are some examples:

• Relationships: The existence of boxer briefs somehow hasn’t ended the boxers/briefs debate.
• Alternatives: They accept cash and/or credit.
• Fractions: After an hour, 2/3 of the audience had already left.

Ellipses (…)

In formal writing, ellipses are used to indicate that words were removed from a quote.

• The mayor said, “The damages will be … paid for by the city … as soon as possible.”

In informal writing, ellipses are often used to indicate pauses or speech that trails off.

• He nervously stammered and said, “Look, I … You see … I wasn’t … Forget it, okay.”

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Typographical symbols

Typographical symbols rarely appear in formal writing. You are much more likely to see them used for a variety of reasons in informal writing.

Asterisk (*)

In formal writing, especially academic and scientific writing, the asterisk is used to indicate a footnote.

• Chocolate is the preferred flavor of ice cream.* * According to survey data from the Ice Cream Data Center.

The asterisk may also be used to direct a reader toward a clarification or may be used to censor inappropriate words or phrases.

Ampersand (&)

The ampersand substitutes for the word and . Besides its use in the official names of things, the ampersand is typically avoided in formal writing.

•  The band gave a speech at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame .

Bullet Point (•)

Bullet points are used to create lists. For example,

For this recipe you will need:

• baking powder

Pound symbol (#)

Informally, the pound symbol is typically used to mean number or is used in social media hashtags.

• The catchy pop song reached #1 on the charts.
• Ready 4 Halloween 2morrow!!! #spooky #TrickorTreat

Besides being used as an accent mark in Spanish and Portuguese words, the tilde is rarely used. Informally, a person may use it to mean “about” or “approximately.”

• We visited São Paulo during our vacation.
• I think my dog weighs ~20 pounds.

Backslash (\)

The backslash is primarily used in computer programming and coding. It might be used online and in texting to draw emoticons , but it has no other common uses in writing. Be careful not to mix it up with the similar forward slash (/), which is a punctuation mark.

At symbol (@)

The at symbol substitutes for the word at in informal writing. In formal writing, it is used when writing email addresses.

• His email address is [email protected] .

Caret symbol (^)

The caret symbol is used in proofreading, but may be used to indicate an exponent if a writer is unable to use superscript .

• Do you know what 3 ^ 4 (3 to the power of 4) is equal to?

Pipe symbol (|)

The pipe symbol is not used in writing. Instead, it has a variety of functions in the fields of math, physics, or computing.

How much do you know about verbs? Learn about them here.

Ways To Say

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Trump Leads in 5 Key States, as Young and Nonwhite Voters Express Discontent With Biden

A new set of Times/Siena polls, including one with The Philadelphia Inquirer, reveal an erosion of support for the president among young and nonwhite voters upset about the economy and Gaza.

• Share full article

THE NEW YORK TIMES

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

SIENA COLLEGE POLL

April 28 to May 9

If the 2024 presidential election

were held today , who would you

vote for if the candidates were

Joe Biden and Donald Trump ?

Pennsylvania

Margin of error

If the 2024 presidential election were held today, who would you vote for if the candidates were Joe Biden and Donald Trump ?

By Nate Cohn

Donald J. Trump leads President Biden in five crucial battleground states, a new set of polls shows , as a yearning for change and discontent over the economy and the war in Gaza among young, Black and Hispanic voters threaten to unravel the president’s Democratic coalition.

The surveys by The New York Times, Siena College and The Philadelphia Inquirer found that Mr. Trump was ahead among registered voters in a head-to-head matchup against Mr. Biden in five of six key states: Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Mr. Biden led among registered voters in only one battleground state, Wisconsin.

[You can find the full results of the polls, including the exact questions that were asked, here . You can see answers to common questions about our polling process here .]

The race was closer among likely voters. Mr. Trump led in five states as well, but Mr. Biden edged ahead in Michigan while trailing only narrowly in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. While Mr. Biden won all six of those states in 2020, victories in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin would be enough for him to win re-election, provided he won everywhere else he did four years ago.

The results were similar in a hypothetical matchup that included minor-party candidates and the independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who won an average of 10 percent of the vote across the six states and drew roughly equally from the two major-party candidates.

The findings are mostly unchanged since the last series of Times/Siena polls in battleground states in November. Since then, the stock market has gained 25 percent, Mr. Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan has started, and the Biden campaign has unleashed tens of millions of dollars in advertisements across the battleground states.

The polls offer little indication that any of these developments have helped Mr. Biden, hurt Mr. Trump or quelled the electorate’s discontent. Instead, the surveys show that the cost of living, immigration, Israel’s war in Gaza and a desire for change continue to be a drag on the president’s standing. While Mr. Biden benefited from a burst of momentum in the wake of his State of the Union address in March, he continues to trail in the average of national and battleground state polls.

How support for the candidates differ

between registered and likely voters

The findings reveal widespread dissatisfaction with the state of the country and serious doubts about Mr. Biden’s ability to deliver major improvements to American life. A majority of voters still desire the return to normalcy promised by Mr. Biden in the last campaign, but voters in battleground states remain particularly anxious, unsettled and itching for change. Nearly 70 percent of voters say that the country’s political and economic systems need major changes — or even to be torn down entirely.

Only a sliver of Mr. Biden’s supporters — just 13 percent — believe that the president would bring major changes in his second term, while even many of those who dislike Mr. Trump grudgingly acknowledge that he would shake up an unsatisfying status quo.

The sense that Mr. Biden would do little to improve the nation’s fortunes has helped erode his standing among young, Black and Hispanic voters, who usually represent the foundation of any Democratic path to the presidency. The Times/Siena polls found that the three groups wanted fundamental changes to American society, not just a return to normalcy, and few believed that Mr. Biden would make even minor changes that would be good for the country.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden are essentially tied among 18-to-29-year-olds and Hispanic voters, even though each group gave Mr. Biden more than 60 percent of their vote in 2020. Mr. Trump also wins more than 20 percent of Black voters — a tally that would be the highest level of Black support for any Republican presidential candidate since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The polls suggest that Mr. Trump’s strength among young and nonwhite voters has at least temporarily upended the electoral map, with Mr. Trump surging to a significant lead in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada — relatively diverse Sun Belt states where Black and Hispanic voters propelled Mr. Biden to signature victories in the 2020 election.

Mr. Biden nonetheless remains within striking distance. He has maintained most of his support among older and white voters, who are much less likely to demand fundamental changes to the system and far likelier to say that democracy is the most important issue for their vote. As a result, Mr. Biden is more competitive in the three relatively white Northern swing states: Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The economy and the cost of living, however, remain the most important issues for one-quarter of voters — and a significant drag on Mr. Biden’s prospects. More than half of voters still believe that the economy is “poor,” down merely a single percentage point since November despite cooling inflation, an end to rate hikes and significant stock market gains.

Nearly 40 percent of Mr. Trump’s supporters said that the economy or the cost of living was the most important issue in the election, among them Jennifer Wright, a registered nurse in Sterling Heights, Mich. She supported Mr. Trump in 2016 and 2020, and to her the election comes down to one question: “Who is the best candidate who is going to help me be in a financial situation to retire?”

“Even me, as a registered nurse, I’m buying Kroger brand or store brand. I’m not buying Jif. We’ve all had to cut back,” she said.

The Biden administration’s insistence that the economy is faring well has fallen flat for many voters, including Jacob Sprague, 32, who works as a systems engineer in Reno, Nev. He says that he voted for Mr. Biden in 2020 but will not be doing so this time.

“It is concerning to me when I keep seeing press come out of the White House where they keep saying the economy is good,” Mr. Sprague said. “That’s really weird because I’m paying more on taxes and more on groceries and more on housing and more on fuel. So that doesn’t feel good.”

With less than six months to go until the election, there is still time for an improving economy to lift Mr. Biden’s standing. Historically, polls at this early stage have not been necessarily indicative of the outcome, and Mr. Trump’s breakthrough among traditionally Democratic young, Black and Hispanic voters may not rest on a solid foundation. His strength is concentrated among irregular, disengaged voters who do not pay close attention to politics and may not yet be tuned into the race. They may be prone to shift their views as the race gets underway.

In a finding that will frustrate Democrats, even as it presents opportunity for Mr. Biden, nearly 20 percent of voters blame him more than they do Mr. Trump for the Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade. They may be the kind of voters that the Biden campaign hopes to persuade as the campaign heats up.

The polls showed that abortion loomed as one of Mr. Trump’s biggest vulnerabilities. On average, 64 percent of voters in battleground states said that abortion should be always or mostly legal, including 44 percent of Mr. Trump’s own supporters.

In recent weeks, the Biden campaign has sought to emphasize Mr. Trump’s support for the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. For now, though, voters preferred Mr. Biden over Mr. Trump to handle the issue of abortion by 11 points, 49 to 38 percent.

A bigger challenge for Mr. Biden than disengaged voters may ultimately be the disaffected and the disillusioned — those who desire fundamental changes to American society, or who believe that the political and economic systems need to be torn down altogether. Not long ago, these anti-system voters might have been reliably Democratic, but Mr. Trump’s anti-establishment populist brand of conservatism has flipped the usual political dynamic.

Seventy percent of voters believe that Mr. Trump will either bring major changes to the political or economic system or tear down the systems altogether, compared with 24 percent who expect the same from Mr. Biden. And while many voters express deep reservations about Mr. Trump personally, 43 percent of voters believe that he will bring good changes to the country, compared with 35 percent who think the changes will be bad.

Most Americans think the system

needs to change …

Which comes closest to your view about

the political and economic system in America,

even if none are exactly right?

The system needs ...

... no changes 2%

Don’t know/

declined to say 2%

… and they think that Donald Trump

would bring more change …

If [this candidate] won the election, do you think

nothing would change, there would be minor

changes to how things work, there would be

major changes to how things work, or he would

tear down the system completely?

would change

Minor changes

declined to say 4%

… but they are split on whether that

change would be good or bad.

Do you think the changes that [this candidate]

would make would be good for the country

or bad for the country, or neither good nor bad?

or very good

or very bad

declined to say 5%

Most Americans think the system needs to change …

Which comes closest to your view about the political and economic

system in America, even if none are exactly right?

... major changes

... minor changes

… and they think that Donald Trump would bring more change …

If [this candidate] won the election, do you think nothing would change,

there would be minor changes to how things work, there would be major

changes to how things work, or he would tear down the system completely?

… but they are split on whether that change would be good or bad.

Do you think the changes that [this candidate] would make would be good

for the country or bad for the country, or neither good nor bad?

Mr. Trump fares especially well among those who believe that the political and economic systems ought to be torn down, a group that represents about 15 percent of registered voters. He leads among these anti-system voters by 32 points, and the tear-it-down voters are especially likely to have defected from the president. In contrast, Mr. Biden retains nearly all of his 2020 supporters who believe only minor changes are necessary.

These change voters are not necessarily demanding a more ideologically progressive agenda. In the last Times/Siena poll of the same states, 11 percent of registered voters thought that Mr. Biden was not progressive or liberal enough. And while many liberal or progressive voters want major changes, relatively few of those voters are defecting from Mr. Biden.

Instead, Mr. Biden’s losses are concentrated among moderate and conservative Democratic-leaning voters, who nonetheless think that the system needs major changes or to be torn down altogether. Mr. Trump wins just 2 percent of Mr. Biden’s “very liberal” 2020 voters who think the system at least needs major changes, compared with 16 percent of those who are moderate or conservative.

One exception is Israel’s war in Gaza, an issue on which most of Mr. Biden’s challenge appears to come from his left. Around 13 percent of the voters who say they voted for Mr. Biden last time, but do not plan to do so again, said that his foreign policy or the war in Gaza was the most important issue to their vote. Just 17 percent of those voters reported sympathizing with Israel over the Palestinians.

Gerard Willingham, 30, works as a web administrator and lives in Riverdale, Ga. He voted for Mr. Biden in 2020, but he plans to vote for a third-party candidate in November because of the president’s response to the conflict in Gaza, the issue about which he cares most right now.

“I think it’s made quite a bit of difference in that it made me more heavily than in the past push toward voting for a third party, even if I feel that the candidates almost 100 percent won’t win,” Mr. Willingham said. “It’s starting to reach into my moral conscience, I guess.”

Mr. Trump’s trial in Manhattan, on charges that he falsified business records related to a hush-money payment to cover up an affair with the adult film star Stormy Daniels, was already underway when the polls began in late April. However, the survey offered little indication that the trial had damaged the former president’s political fortunes, at least so far. Just 29 percent of voters in battleground states said that they were paying “a lot” of attention to Mr. Trump’s legal woes, and 35 percent thought that the trial was likely to end in a conviction.

Alyce McFadden contributed reporting.

Here are the key things to know about how these polls were conducted:

We spoke with 4,097 registered voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from April 28 to May 9, 2024.

Our polls are conducted by telephone, using live interviewers, in both English and Spanish. Nearly 95 percent of respondents were contacted on a cellphone for this poll. You can see the exact questions that were asked and the order in which they were asked here .

Voters are selected for the survey from a list of registered voters. The list contains information on the demographic characteristics of every registered voter, allowing us to make sure we reach the right number of voters of each party, race and region. For this set of polls, we placed nearly 500,000 calls to about 410,000 voters.

To further ensure that the results reflect the entire voting population, not just those willing to take a poll, we give more weight to respondents from demographic groups underrepresented among survey respondents, like people without a college degree. You can see more information about the characteristics of our respondents and the weighted sample on the methodology page , under “Composition of the Sample.”

When the states are joined together, the margin of sampling error among registered voters is plus or minus 1.8 percentage points. Each state poll has a margin of error ranging from plus or minus 3.6 points in Pennsylvania to plus or minus 4.6 points in Georgia. In theory, this means that the results should reflect the views of the overall population most of the time, though many other challenges create additional sources of error. When computing the difference between two values — such as a candidate’s lead in a race — the margin of error is twice as large.

You can see full results and a detailed methodology here . If you want to read more about how and why we conduct our polls, you can see answers to frequently asked questions and submit your own questions here .

The New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena College poll of Pennsylvania was funded by a grant from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. The poll was designed and conducted independently from the institute.

Nate Cohn is The Times’s chief political analyst. He covers elections, public opinion, demographics and polling. More about Nate Cohn