Lists

• Use the correct list type for the content.
  • Use unordered (bulleted) lists when the items can meaningfully be read in any order.

    Organize unordered list items based on a coherent principle such as importance, relatedness, or alphabetical order.

  • Use ordered (numbered) lists when the order of items — for example, procedure steps — is important.
• Keep lists short (ideally 3 to 7 items).

  Longer lists should usually be reorganized into smaller lists of related items.

• Avoid nesting lists too deeply.

  Even three levels of hierarchy can be difficult to follow. Instead, consider reorganizing the content into labeled sections or topics.

• Keep list items parallel in structure.
  • If one item is a complete sentence, all items should be complete sentences.
  • If one item is a noun or noun phrase, all items should be nouns or noun phrases.
  • If one item begins with a verb, all items should begin with a verb using the same tense.
• End list items with a period only if the list item is a complete sentence (or completes the sentence begun by the lead-in phrase).

  Do not end list items with a comma or semicolon.

Lead-In Phrases

Precede a list with a lead-in phrase if needed, especially to allow list items to be shorter.

Lists of steps in a procedure usually do not need a lead-in phrase.

If the list completes a lead-in phrase:

• The lead-in phrase should end with a colon.
• Each item should complete the lead-in phrase.