Bulleted lists

Considerations

• Select the list type. Use numbered (also called “ordered”) lists when giving steps that someone must follow in a specific order. Use bulleted (also called “unordered”) lists for any list that doesn’t require a specific order.
• Introduce the list. Introduce the list with a full sentence. Avoid using “the following” in the list introduction and use a less formal phrase instead. For example, instead of “You’ll need the following documents,” use “You’ll need these documents.”
• Don’t combine the list items’ starting word or phrase with the introduction. For example, don’t introduce the list with “All of these must be true. You’re:” In this case, each item should start with “You’re.” This helps when the content needs to be translated into another language.
• No single item lists. Don’t use a numbered or bulleted list for only one item.
• Avoid using sub-bullets. Sub-bullets can make the content harder to scan. If possible, make the item with sub-bullets a separate list.
  Note: Bulleted lists can be used in step-by-step lists.
• Item content must be succinct. Keep each item succinct for scannability (for example, 1 or 2 sentences each).
• Connect items appropriately. When using “and” or “or” at the end of each list item, use a comma and bold the “and” or “or” at the end of each item.
  Note: Don’t use “and/or” in lists. Instead, restructure the content to list all options (for example, “your income and/or net worth” should be “your income, your net worth, or both”).
• No more than 7 items without a break. If your list has more than 7 items, use subheads to break out the list into smaller lists.
• Use parallel construction within a list. Each list item should be consistent. For example, starting with a verb or noun phrase.

Punctuation

• When the list is made up of fragments or single sentences, don’t use ending periods
• If one or more bullets contains an additional sentence, use ending periods on all items in the bulleted list—including any fragments
• Don’t use a period at the end of the last bullet in a series of fragments

Note: Punctuation of bullets is determined by list, not by page. It’s OK to have a list of bullets that are fragments (that don’t use periods) on the same page as a list of bullets with multiple full sentences (that use periods). Just use the correct house style of punctuation for each type of list.

Example of bulleted list with fragments

Use parallel construction and don’t use ending periods for fragments.

Example of bulleted list with conjunctions

When using “and” or “or” at the end of each bullet point, use a comma and bold the “and”/”or” at the end of each bullet point.

Example of bulleted list with more than one sentence

Use ending periods for each bulleted item in a list if any of the items contain a fragment and an additional sentence.