When and how to punctuate a list of bullet points

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

January 05, 2023

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.

When and how to punctuate a list of bullet points – Microsoft 365 (1)

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.

When and how to punctuate a list of bullet points – Microsoft 365 (2)

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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.

“If your bullet point list completes an introductory stem, you should add punctuation to it.”

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:

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:

Milk
Cheese
Eggs
Chicken

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.