Read & Compare
Which is easier to read?
|
|
|
| Bulleted and numbered lists visually emphasize information, capsulize concepts and facilitate reading comprehension. |
Bulleted and numbered lists:
- visually emphasize information
- capsulize concepts
- facilitate reading comprehension.
|
Punctuating Lists
Is a bulleted list punctuated like a sentence or is it something else all together?
The bulleted list debate: writers disagree on how to punctuate bulleted lists! Before the word-processor, writers used outlines or separated their list items with commas. Then, Microsoft Word came along with bulleted and numbered list options. Their popularity increased and we are still trying to settle on how to punctuate them.
| STYLE ONE: A VERTICAL SENTENCE |
STYLE TWO: A VERTICAL LIST |
Job applicants will need to have:
- a high-school degree;
- a bachelors degree;
- two years of experience;
- three recommendations.
Q: Are semicolons redundant (repetitive) when using bullets?
A: Some manuals advise using semi-colons, others advise against using them.
|
Items to take with you:
- sunscreen
- towel
- bathing suit
- sun umbrella
Q: Does a "shopping list" need capitalization and punctuation (besides the colon after the introductory phrase)?
A:
The informal style tends to use no punctuation for the list-items. |
Job applicants will need to have:
- a high-school degree.
- a bachelors degree.
- two years of experience.
- three recommendations.
Q: Does the period after the list item mean that applicants need only one item to qualify?
A: Logically speaking, a period at the end of each list-item would indicate the introductory phrase plus the list-item makes a complete sentence. The logical effect is an OR statement.
|
What is the best sun-protection?
- T-shirt
- sunscreen
- wet suit
- sun umbrella
Q: In a list in which a question is posed, where should the writer logically place the question mark, after each item or after the introductory phrase?
A: In multiple choice style questions, it makes more sense to place the question mark with the introductory phrase. |
Job applicants will need to have:
- a high-school degree
- a bachelors degree
- two years of experience
- three recommendations.
Q: Does the period after the final list item mean that applicants need all four items to qualify?
A: Logically speaking, a period at the end of the final item would indicate that all other items are part of the series concluding with the final list item. (AND)
|
Winners will receive
- free airfare
- a rental car
- a hotel stay
- and much more!
Q: In a promotional or commercial list, does punctuation detract from the message?
A: ?
Q:
How does punctuation of a promotional list differ from that of a Power Point presentation at a business meeting? (See below for phrase length conventions.)
A: ? |
| This style of list has an introductory phrase followed by a series of words, phrases or clauses that make up a complete sentence. Semi-colons and bullets set off each list item. Sentence punctuation occurs as usual. |
This informal style of list has an introductory phrase followed by single words or short phrases. The vertical format and bullets set off each list item. Additional punctuation is seen as repetitive and unnecessary with bullets. |
The bulleted lists presented on this page are a blend of current usage. The same punctuation conventions apply to numbered lists.
|
Read and Compare
 Introductory Phrase Followed by Colon
| WORDS |
PHRASES, CLAUSES & SENTENCES |
| Introduce the list with an introductory phrase and a colon. Optionally, omit articles (a, an, the) from the beginning of list items. |
Make sure that each list item reads grammatically with the introductory phrase. If a list has fewer than three items, use a sentence instead of a list. |
My duties were:
- planning
- selecting
- organizing
- inviting
- overseeing
- cleaning up
- collecting
|
We had several responsibilities:
- Fundraising events were planned bi-annually.
- Venues and speakers were selected for each event.
- Caterers, florists and greeters were hired to assist at events.
- Invitations were emailed to encourage donor attendance.
- Blind-auctions were used to raise additional money.
- Events were hosted to network potential donors.
- Donations were followed by thank-you letters.
|
Parallel Phrasing of list items
| INCORRECT |
CORRECT |
| Each item should be the same word form: noun, verb, adjective, verb phrase (gerund or infinitive). |
Each item below is a noun form, a gerund, and reads grammatically with the introductory phrase. |
I was in charge of:
- planning
- selected the venue and speakers
- organization of event
- invitations
- oversaw the event
- made sure to clean up
- donation collection
|
I was in charge of:
- planning events
- selecting venues and speakers
- organizing caterers, florists and greeters
- sending out invitations
- hosting and entertaining
- cleaning up
- collecting donations
|
More information: Parallel Phrasing,
Gerunds Parallel Phrasing,
Parallel Phrasing in Bulleted Lists
 Initial Capitals
| USE LOWER CASE |
USE AN INITIAL CAPITAL |
IN SINGLE WORDS & SHORT PHRASES
Items that are fragments are usually left lower case; however, they can also be capitalized. Apply the same capitalization style for all items. |
IN CLAUSES & SENTENCES
Capitalize the beginning letter of words in independent clauses and sentences, which are placed on separate lines. |
SINGLE WORDS
|
Job responsibilities:
- planning
- selecting
- organizing
- inviting
- overseeing
- cleaning up
- collecting
|
(optional capitalization)
- Planning
- Selecting
- Organizing
- Inviting
- Overseeing
- Cleaning up
- Collecting
|
|
CLAUSES
We believe that:
- Every child should have a mentor.
- Every child should be able to participate in an apprenticeship.
- Every child should be able to follow his or her dream.
- Changing direction is not failure but a new beginning.
|
SHORT PHRASES
We had several responsibilities:
- planning events
- selecting venues and speakers
- organizing caterers, florists and greeters
- sending out invitations
- hosting and entertaining
- cleaning up
- collecting donations
|
SENTENCES
We had several responsibilities:
- Fundraising events were planned bi-annually.
- Venues and speakers were selected for each event.
- Caterers, florists and greeters were hired to assist at the events.
- Invitations were emailed to encourage donors to attend.
- Blind-auctions were used to raise additional money.
- Events were hosted to network with potential donors.
- Donations were followed up with thank you letters.
|
 List Item Periods
Use a period at the end of the list if: (1) the list items complete the sentence begun by the introductory phrase; (2) if the
content of the list item is a complete sentence; (3) if the list is used within a larger body of writing. (In such a case, phrase the list as a vertical sentence.)
| USE NO PERIOD |
USE A PERIOD |
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE:
Periods are unnecessary after introductory statements which are already complete sentences (i.e. list items are not essential to completing the introductory statement). |
INTRO STATEMENT REQUIRES LIST ITEMS FOR COMPLETION
Use periods after introductory phrases in which the list items are grammatically essential to completing the sentence, especially after: such as, for example, including, namely. |
PHRASES
My duties varied:
- planning events
- selecting venues and speakers
- organizing caterers, florists and greeters
- sending out invitations
- overseeing the events
- cleaning up
- collecting donations
|
PHRASES
I had several management duties, including:
- planning events
- selecting venues and speakers
- organizing caterers, florists and greeters
- sending out invitations
- overseeing the events
- cleaning up
- collecting donations
|
SHORT PHRASES
In my job, I made decisions:
- who was going
- where we were going
- how we were going
- what time to go
|
CLAUSES
In my job, I made decisions, such as:
- who was going to plan the event
- where the event was going to be
- how the event would be funded
- what the theme would be
- how many people we could invite
|
| WORDS (no attempt to create sentences)
Education:
- University of California, Berkeley, M. A.
- San Francisco State University, A. B
- University of California, Davis
- Alameda High School
Hobbies:
- Dancing (tango and hip-hop)
- Fishing (fly fishing)
- Cycling (motto- cross)
Resume sections typically use bulleted lists for visual clarity. |
SENTENCES Use a period after EACH independent clause.
In my job, we had several responsibilities, for example:
- Fundraising events were planned bi-annually
- Venues and speakers were selected for each event
- Caterers and florists were hired to assist at the events
- Invitations were emailed to encourage donors to attend
- Blind-auctions were used to raise additional money
- Events were hosted to network with potential donors
- Donations were followed up with thank you letters
|
 Pop-Q 11/16/2008
 Semicolons
| USE NO SEMICOLON |
USE A SEMICOLON |
| Some writers treat the entire list as a vertical sentence and use semi-colons to separate clauses. While it is not necessary to separate the list items with commas or semi-colons (because that is what the bullet does) some writers still do. Other writers feel that over-punctuating a bulleted list makes it look messy and detracts from the visual clarity. |
EXCEPTION If the introductory phrase forms a complete sentence with each list item, then use a semicolon (or a period) after each list item and a period at the end of the final list item. |
My duties included:
- planning events
- selecting venues and speakers
- organizing caterers, florists and greeters
- sending out invitations
- overseeing the events
- cleaning up
- collecting donations.
|
You will be selected if you have:
- a high-school degree;
- a bachelors degree;
- two years of experience;
- three recommendations.
Q: Since each list item forms a complete sentence with the introductory phrase, does that mean you will be selected if you have at least one item in the list?
Semicolons, similar to periods, can create an "or" statement when used at the end of each list item.
|
INCORRECT
My duties included:
- planning events;
- selecting, organizing and finding venues and speakers; and
- sending out invitations;
- overseeing the events;
- cleaning up and
- collecting donations.
If you want to use semicolons (;) and conjunctions, delete the bullets and just write a sentence. |
|
|
