Bullet points are the best friend of the web writer. They break up pages into neat, bite-sized chunks – making content easier to scan and read.
Unfortunately, they are also often incorrectly punctuated. Gone are the days that you need a complex mix of colons, semi-colons and bullets to punctuate correctly.
HERE’S A CHEAT SHEET:
- If the bullet points are complete sentences (like these), punctuate them as you would a sentence with a capital at the start and a full stop at the end.
- It doesn’t matter if there is a lead-in sentences or not (with a colon), as long as each bullet point makes sense as a stand alone statement.
But, if the bullet points are a carry on from the lead-in sentence:
- you use a colon at the end of the lead-in sentence
- you don’t capitalise the first letter
- there is no need for a full stop until the final point.
Numbers or bullets?
Bullet points are bullet points if they can be read in any order and still make sense. If this isn’t the case with your bullet points, then use a numbered (or ordered) list instead.
To make a cake, you:
- check the recipe
- measure the ingredients
- mix the batter
- place in the oven
- serve and enjoy!
Don’t go overboard
Bulleted (and numbered) lists are great, but keep them short. If you find that you need more than about seven points in your list, then reconsider what you are trying to say. Perhaps break it into two lists.
Remember, keep it simple and easy to follow. The visitors to your site will thank you for it!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Agree with most of what you’ve said, Sally. Bullet points are a great way to break up a mass of list items on a page.
A couple of questions:
- If you’ve got a bullet point that’s a complete sentence *without* a lead-in sentence (as you mention in your second bullet point here), why make it a bullet point at all? Why can’t it just be a standard sentence?
- Should you use bullet points if there’s just one item in the “list”?
Great work, Sally.
Hi Bill
Good points (pun intended).
I think if your sentences don’t necessarily read well one after the other (and sub-headings aren’t appropriate), bullets are good to use because they indicate that the content shouldn’t be read the same way as a paragraph.
For instance you may be writing about pugs.
Little known facts about pugs
• Random fact.
• Random fact.
• Random fact.
In answer to your second question, I think you just have to make a judgement call on how it looks. If it keeps the rest of your page looking consistent, then go for it.
Cheers, and thanks for the comment!
I love bullets and get all manner of feedback from clients when I use them – esp. those who love the government/academic semi-colon approach.
In response to Bill – a one item list does not a list make. There’s no need to bullet the sentence, just say it. (Unless it’s a content treatment you’re doing for a link at the bottom of a page or section, and you *really* want the user to see it.)
Another thing with lists – an issue I see as a delicate balance – is that sometimes you’re making content look much more important than it is by using bullets (which draw the user’s eye). So you really need to think before you bullet!
Yours in bullets.
Lisa
Hi Lisa
Thanks for your comments! Totally agree about how bullets ‘up’ the importance of content items. People scan content when reading online. Bullets naturally break that flow – so lists are read. Definitely make sure they are worth reading.
Cheers
Sally