These are perfectly acceptable, and some style guides suggest writing lists like this. The tricky thing is punctuation. And, as a guideline, we’d suggest punctuating bullet points as follows: However, this again comes down to preference and your chosen style guide. Send us feedback. If the text of your bullet point is a complete sentence (or multiple sentences), use capital letters and punctuation. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! They’re easy to read. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Everyone loves a vertical list. Your email address will not be published. We could also write this list with commas instead of semicolons. Should each point start with a capital letter and end with a period? bullet example sentences. However, most people now leave out the extra punctuation. Delivered to your inbox! Punctuation: Punctuating a bullet point list (KS2) - YouTube Are We Entering 'Uncharted' or 'Unchartered' Waters.

This is usually done when each list entry finishes an introductory phrase, as shown below: The idea is that the list reads like a single sentence, with semicolons separating each point, a conjunction just before the final entry, and a period at the end. If your points are not structured as proper sentences, you don’t need to end with punctuation. Example sentences with the word bullet. But the option of using the text as bullet points with audio voice-over needs to be made more explicit in the induction. This is another case where there are no hard rules! What made you want to look up bullet point? Do you need a colon to introduce a list? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. So, for PowerPoints, pictures are more engaging than bullet points with text. As research by the Nielsen Norman group suggests: Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. Home How to Punctuate and Capitalize Bullet Points. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bullet point.' “Bullet point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bullet%20point. Learn a new word every day.

0. See the full definition for bullet point in the English Language Learners Dictionary. Bullet point definition is - an item in a list that has a large dot in front of it to signify its importance; broadly : any point or statement given special emphasis (as in a speech). When your audience reads bullet points while you speak, the bullet points distract from your talk. Finally, should you capitalize the first letter of each entry in a vertical list? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). After days of haggling, the alliance drafted a terse statement -- from which two numbered, The administrative law judges’ analysis offered multiple, U of L’s Rick Pitino is still the only head coach to lose his job as a direct result of the investigation, and even his dismissal was more the product of multiple, Post the Definition of bullet point to Facebook, Share the Definition of bullet point on Twitter, 9 Pairs of Words That Look the Same But Different. They look good. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? How to use bullet in a sentence. For lists of fragments, short phrases, or words, capitalization is optional: As with the other optional punctuation above, though, make sure to use a consistent capitalization style throughout your writing. For lists with longer sentence … To save this word, you'll need to log in. And if so, when? How to Punctuate and Capitalize Bullet Points. This is ultimately a matter of stylistic preference. Punctuation with bullet points. Why wouldn’t you want to add a list to your work? So many choices to make! But if you are using a style guide, you may want to check it for guidance on which style to use. Sentences Menu. The key thing is applying a clear and consistent punctuation style to all lists.

We’re often asked whether you need a period at the end of each entry in a list. And, as a guideline, we’d suggest punctuating bullet points as follows: When listing full sentences, use a period for each entry (like here). When a few letters make a large difference. Punctuating Bullet Points: Do You Need Periods? You can also use a colon after a partial sentence. 0. And if you’d like any more help with the punctuation and capitalization of lists in a document, don’t forget we have proofreaders available 24/7! Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published.
But in sales content, bullet points can be persuasive. If you have a list of full sentences – or a list with a mix of full sentences and fragments – we suggest capitalizing the first letter in each item. Although a little old-fashioned, some people like to use semicolons or commas in lists.

To help, we’ve prepared a guide to punctuating and capitalizing bullet points.

Bullet points have a bad name in PowerPoint presentations.
When a vertical list follows a full sentence, introduce it with a colon.

On the printed page, bullets 'break up the gray,' as we say in the world of publishing. The New York Times, Jan. 17, 2010) - "For public speakers, bullet points serve as prompts to extemporaneous speech, and are often more useful than a complete text. We’re often asked whether you need a period at the end of each entry in a list. However, you can omit the colon when a list follows a partial sentence. Accessed 1 Oct. 2020.