Create bulleted or numbered lists
In bulleted lists, each paragraph beginswith a bullet character. In numbered lists, each paragraph beginswith an expression that includes a number or letter and a separatorsuch as a period or parenthesis. The numbers in a numbered listare updated automatically when you add or remove paragraphs in thelist. You can change the type of bullet or numbering style, theseparator, the font attributes and character styles, and the typeand amount of indent spacing.
You cannot use the Type tooltoselect the bullets or numbers in a list. Instead, edit their formattingand indent spacing using the Bullets And Numbering dialog box, theParagraph panel, or the Bullets And Numbering section of the Paragraph Stylesdialog box (if the bullets or numbers are part a style).
A quick wayto create a bulleted or numbered list is to type the list, selectit, and then click the Bulleted List or Numbered List button in theControl panel. These buttons let you turn the list on or off andswitch between bullets and numbers. You can also make bullets andnumbering part of a paragraph style and construct lists by assigningstyles to paragraphs.
Note:
Automatically generated bullet andnumber characters aren’t actually inserted in the text. Therefore,they cannot be found during a text search or selected with the Typetool unless you convert them to text. In addition, bullets and numberingdon’t appear in the story editor window (except in the paragraphstyle column).
Select the set of paragraphs thatwill become the list, or click to place the insertion point whereyou want the list to begin.
Do any of the following:
Click the Bulleted List button
orthe Numbered List button
inthe Control panel (in Paragraph mode). Hold down Alt (Windows) orOption (MacOS) while clicking a button to display theBullets And Numbering dialog box.
Choose Bullets And Numbering from the Paragraphpanel or Command panel. For List Type, choose either Bullets orNumbers. Specify the settings you want, and then clickOK.
Apply a paragraph style that includes bullets ornumbering.
To continue the list in the next paragraph, move theinsertion point to the end of the list and press Enter or Return.
To end the list (or list segment, if the list is to becontinued later in the story), click the Bulleted List or NumberedList button in the Control panel again, or choose Bullets And Numberingfrom the Paragraph panel menu.
Format a bulleted or numbered list
Using the Type tool
, selectthe bulleted or numbered paragraphs you want to reformat.
Do any of the following to open the Bullets And Numberingdialog box:
Choose Bullets And Numbering from the Controlpanel menu (in Paragraph mode) or the Paragraph panel menu.
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (MacOS)either the Bulleted List button
orthe Numbered List button
.
In the Bullets And Numbering dialog box, do any of thefollowing:
Change the bullet character.
Change the numbered list options.
Choose a style for the numbers or bullets from theCharacter Style list.
To change the position of the bullet or number, specifyany of the following:
Alignment
Left-aligns, centers, or right-aligns the bullets ornumbers within the horizontal space allotted for numbers. (If thisspace is narrow, the difference between the three options is negligible.)
Left Indent
Specifies how far the lines after the first line areindented.
First Line Indent
Controls where the bullet or number is positioned.
Increase the First Line Indent value if you want the punctuation in long lists to be aligned. For example, if you want “9.” and “10.” to be aligned on the period, change the Alignment to Right and gradually increase the first line indent until the numbers align (make sure Preview is turned on).
To create the hanging indent effect, specify a positive Left Indent value (such as 2p0), and then specify an equal negative value (such as -2p0) for First Line Indent.
Note:
The Left Indent, First Line Indent, and Tab Position settings in the Bullets And Numbering dialog box are paragraph attributes. For that reason, changing these settings in the Paragraph panel also changes bulleted and numbered list formats
Tab Position
Activates the tab position to create space between thebullet or number and the start of the list item.
By default, bullets and numbers inherit some of theirtext formatting from the first character in the paragraph to whichthey’re attached. If the first character in one paragraph is differentfrom the first characters in other paragraphs, the numbering orbullet character may appear inconsistent with the other list items. Ifthis is not the formatting you desire, create a character stylefor numbers or bullets and apply it to your list by using the BulletsAnd Numbering dialog box.
Change bullet characters
If you don’t want to use one of the existingbullet characters, you can add other bullet characters to the BulletCharacter grid. A bullet character that is available in one fontmay not be available in another font. You can choose whether thefont is remembered with any bullet character you add.
If youwant to use a bullet found in a specific font (such as the pointinghand from Dingbats), be sure to set the bullet to remember thatfont. If you use a basic bullet character, it’s probably best notto remember the font, because most fonts have their own versionof that bullet character. Depending on whether you select the RememberFont With Bullet option, a bullet you add can reference either a Unicodevalue and a specific font family and style, or just a Unicode value.
Note:
Bulletsthat reference only the Unicode value (without a remembered font) appearwith a red “u” indicator.
A. Bullet without remembered fontB. Bulletwith remembered font
Change the bullet character
On the Control panel menu or Paragraphpanel menu, select Bullets And Numbering.
In the Bullets And Numbering dialog box, select Bulletsfrom the List Type menu.
Select a different bullet character, and then clickOK.
Add a bullet character
In the Bullets And Numbering dialogbox, select Bullets from the List Type menu, then click Add.
Select the glyph that you want to use as the bullet character.(Different font families and font styles contain different glyphs.)
If you want the new bullet to remember the currentlychosen font and style, select Remember Font With Bullet.
Click Add.
Note:
The list of bullet characters is stored in the document,like paragraph and character styles. When you paste or load paragraphstyles from another document, any bullet character used in thosestyles appears in the Bullets And Numbering dialog box, along withthe other bullets defined for the current document.
Remove a bullet character
In the Bullets And Numbering dialog box,select Bullets from the List Type menu.
Select the bullet character you want to remove, and clickDelete. (The first preset bullet character cannot be deleted.)
Change numbered list options
Ina numbered list, the numbers are updated automatically when youadd or remove paragraphs in the list. Paragraphs that are part ofthe same list are numbered sequentially. These paragraphs do nothave to be consecutive to one another as long as you define a listfor the paragraphs.
You can also create a multi-level list,in which list items are numbered in outline form and are indentedby different degrees.
Open the Bullets And Numbering dialog box.
Under Numbering Style, select the type of numbering youwant to use from the Format menu.
In the Number box, use the default expression—period(.) and tab space (^t)—or construct a number expression of yourown. To enter a number expression, delete the period after the numbermetacharacter (^#) and do one of the following:
- Type a character (such as a closing parenthesis) or more than one character in place of the period.
Note:
You can also input a full-width separator instead of a half-width period separator, which is especially useful for vertical text.
Choose an item (such as Em Dash or Ellipses) from the Insert Special Character menu.
Type a word or character before the number metacharacter. For example, to number questions in a list, you can type the word Question.
Choose a character style for the expression. (The styleyou choose applies to the entire number expression, not just tothe number.)
For Mode, choose one of the following options:
Continue From PreviousNumber
Numbers lists sequentially.
Start At
Starts numbering at a number or other value that youenter in the text box. Enter a number, not a letter, even if yourlist uses letters or Roman numerals for numbering.
Specify any other options, and then clickOK.
Define lists
A defined list can be interruptedby other paragraphs and lists, and can span different stories anddifferent documents in a book. For example, use defined lists tocreate a multi-level outline, or to create a running list of numberedtable names throughout your document. You can also define listsfor separately numbered or bulleted items that are mixed together.For example, in a list of questions and answers, define one listfor numbering the questions and another for numbering the answers.
Definedlists are often used to track paragraphs for numbering purposes.When you create a paragraph style for numbering, you can assignthe style to a defined list, and paragraphs are numbered in thatstyle according to where they appear in the defined list. The firstparagraph to appear is given number 1 (“Table 1”), for example,and the next paragraph is given number 2 (“Table 2”), even if itappears several pages later. Because both paragraphs belong to thesame defined list, they can be numbered consecutively no matterhow far apart they are in the document or book.
Define a newlist for each type of item you want to number—step-by-step instructions,tables, and figures, for example. By defining multiple lists, youcan interrupt one list with another and maintain number sequencesin each list.
Note:
If list items appear in unthreadedframes on the same page, items are numbered in the order in whichthe text frames are added to the page. To reorder the items, cut andpaste the text frames one by one in the order in which you wantthem to be listed.
Define a list
Choose Type> Bulleted AndNumbered Lists> Define Lists.
Click New in the Define Lists dialog box.
Enter a name for the list, choose whether you want tocontinue numbering across stories, and continue numbering from previousdocuments in your book.
Click OK twice.
After you define a list, you can use it in a paragraphstyle, such as a style for tables, figures, or ordered lists, aswell as apply it by way of the Control panel and Paragraph panel.
Note:
Somelists are defined automatically. For example, when you import a numberedlist from a Microsoft Word document, InDesign defines a list automatically foryour document.
Edit a defined list
Choose Type> Bulleted AndNumbered Lists> Define Lists.
Select a list and click Edit.
Enter a new name for the list or change your selectionof Continue Numbers options.
Paragraph styles that are assigned to the list are reassignedto the list under its new name.
Delete a defined list
Choose Type> Bulleted AndNumbered Lists> Define Lists.
Select a list.
Click Delete, and then select a different list or the[Default] list to replace your list with.
Create a paragraph style for runninglists
To create a running list—a list that is interrupted by other paragraphs or that spans multiple stories or documents—create a paragraph style and apply the style to paragraphs that you want to be part of the list. For example, to create a running list of the tables in your document, create a paragraph style called Tables, make a defined list part of the style, and then apply the Tables paragraph style to all paragraphs you want in your Table list.
Choose New Paragraph Style from the ParagraphStyles panel menu.
Enter a style name.
On the left side of the New Paragraph Style dialog box,click Bullets And Numbering.
For List Type, select Bullets or Numbering.
If you are creating a style for numbered lists, choosea defined list from the List menu, or choose New List and definethe list.
Specify the bullet or numbering characteristics.
Use the Bullet or Number Position section of the NewParagraph Style dialog box to change the indent spacing. For example,to create a hanging indent, type 2p for LeftIndent and ‑2p for First Line Indent.
Specify other paragraph style attributes for the style,and then clickOK.
Create multi-level lists
A multi-level list isa list that describes hierarchical relationships between the list paragraphs.These lists are also called outline lists because theyresemble outlines. The list’s numbering scheme (as well as indentations)show rank as well as how items are subordinate to one another. Youcan tell where each paragraph fits in the list with respect to theparagraphs before and after it. You can include up to nine levelsin a multi-level list.
To create a multi-level list, define the list and then create a paragraph style for each level you want. For example, a list with four levels requires four paragraph styles (each one assigned the same defined list). As you create each style, you define its numbering format and paragraph formatting.
Choose New Paragraph Style from the ParagraphStyles panel menu.
Enter a style name.
If you already created a style for your multi-level list,choose the style you will assign to levels above this one from theBased On menu; otherwise, choose No Paragraph Style or Basic Paragraph.
On the left side of the New Paragraph Style dialog box,click Bullets And Numbering.
Choose Numbers from the List Type menu.
Choose a list you defined from the List menu. If youhaven’t yet defined your list, you can choose New List from themenu and define it now.
In the Level box, enter a number that describes whichlevel of the multi-level list you’re creating a style for.
From the Format menu, choose the type of numbering youwant to use.
In the Number box, enter metacharacters or select metacharactersfrom the menus to describe the number formatting you want for listitems at this level.
To include numbering prefixes from higherlevels, enter text or click at the start of the Number box and chooseInsert Number Placeholder and then select a Level option (for example,Level 1), or enter ^ and then the list level (for example, enter ^1).In a list with first levels numbered 1, 2, 3, and so on, and secondlevels numbered a, b, c, and so on, including the first-level prefixin the second level renders second-level numbers as 1a, 1b, 1c;2a, 2b, 2c; 3a, 3b, 3c.
To create a number expression, enter punctuation,enter metacharacters, or select options on the Insert Special Characterlist.
Select Restart Numbers At This Level After to renumberbeginning at 1 when a paragraph at this level appears after a paragraphat a higher level; deselect this option to number paragraphs atthis level consecutively throughout the list without regard forwhere the paragraphs appear in the list hierarchy.
To restart numbers after a specific level or range of levels,type the level number or range (such as 2-4)in the Restart Numbers At This Level After field.
In the Bullet or Number Position area, choose Indentor Tab Position options to indent list items at this level fartherthan list items at higher levels. Indenting helps subordinate itemsin lists stand out.
Click OK.
In some cases, such as with numbered steps, you may wantto restart numbering within the same story. To avoid restartingthe numbered list manually, create a separate style that’s identicalto the Level 1 style with one exception. For Mode, chose Start At,and then specify 1. Name this style something like “Level 1 Restart.”
Create running captions for figuresand tables
Running captions number figures, tables, and other items consecutively in a document. For example, the first figure caption starts with the words “Figure 1,” the second with “Figure 2,” and so on. To make sure that figures, tables, or similar items are numbered consecutively, define a list for the item, and then create a paragraph style that includes the list definition. You can also add descriptive words such as “Figure” or “Table” to the numbering scheme of the paragraph style.
Note:
List items are numbered in the order in which theyare added to the page. To reorder the items, cut and paste the itemsone by one in the order in which you want them to be listed.
Create a new paragraph style and, in the BulletsAnd Numbering section of the Paragraph Style Options dialog box,choose Numbers from the List Type menu.
Choose a defined list from the List menu (or choose NewList to define a list).
Under Numbering Style, select the type of numbering youwant to use from the Format menu.
For example, select the A, B, C, D... option to createa list for “Figure A,” “Figure B,” and so on.
In the Number box, enter a descriptive word and any spacingor punctuation (as needed) along with the numbering metacharacters.
For example, to create a “Figure A” effect, enter the word“Figure” and a space before the numbering metacharacters (such as Figure^#.^t). This adds the word “Figure” followed by a sequentialnumber (^#), a period, and a tab (^t).
Note:
To include chapternumbers in running captions, choose Insert Number Placeholder>Chapter Number from the Number list, or enter ^H whereyou want the chapter number to appear in the number scheme.
Finish creating the style and click OK.
After you create the style, apply it to text figure captionsor table titles.
Note:
You can use the Table OfContents feature to generate a list of tables or figures.
Restart or continue numbering fora list
InDesign offers commands for restartinga list and continuing a list:
Restarting a numberedlist
Place the insertion point in the paragraph and choose RestartNumbering from the context menu or choose Type> Bulleted AndNumbered Lists> Restart Numbering. In normal lists,this command assigns the number 1 (or letter A) to a paragraph andmakes it the first paragraph in a list. In multi-level lists, thiscommand assigns the first lower-level number to a nested paragraph.
Continuing a numbered list
Choose Continue Numbering from the context menu or chooseType> Bulleted And Numbered Lists> ContinueNumbering. This command resumes numbering a list that was interruptedby commentary, graphics, or nested list items. InDesign also offerscommands for numbering lists that begin in one story or book andcross into the next story or book.
Number a list from the previousor current story
Whether a list resumes numbering from theprevious story or starts numbering anew in the current story dependson how the list is defined.
Choose Type> Bulleted And NumberedLists> Define Lists.
Select a list and click the Edit button.
Don’t choose the Default list because it can’t run acrossstories.
Select Continue Numbers Across Stories to resume numberingthe list from the previous story, or deselect this option to startthe list in the current story at 1 (or A).
Click OK twice.
Number a list from the previousor current document in a book
Whether a list resumes numbering from theprevious document in a book or starts numbering anew in the currentdocument depends on how the list is defined.
Choose Type> Bulleted And NumberedLists> Define Lists.
Select a list and click the Edit button.
Select Continue Numbers From Previous Document In Bookto resume numbering the list from the previous document (you mustchoose Continue Numbers Across Stories to activate this option),or deselect this option to start the list in the current documentat 1 (or A).
Click OK twice.
Note:
To make sure that numbering is updatedproperly in a book, synchronize the documents in the book and chooseUpdate Numbering > Update All Numbers from the books panel menu.
Convert list bullets or numbersto text
Select the paragraphs containing the bulletedor numbered list.
Do one of the following:
From the Paragraph panel menu, choose ConvertNumbering To Text or Convert Bullets To Text.
Right-click (Windows) or Command-click (MacOS)the selection, and then choose Convert Numbering To Text or ConvertBullets To Text.
Note:
To remove the list numbers or bullets, click the NumberedList button or Bulleted List button to unapply list formatting tothe selected text.
More like this
- Bulleted and Numbered Lists video
- Add paragraph and character styles
- Convert style bullets and numbering to text
FAQs
What are bullets and numbers answer? ›
In bulleted lists, each paragraph begins with a bullet character. In numbered lists, each paragraph begins with an expression that includes a number or letter and a separator such as a period or parenthesis. The numbers in a numbered list are updated automatically when you add or remove paragraphs in the list.
How can you make a bulleted list with numbers in answer? ›Create a list. To start a numbered list, type 1, a period (.), a space, and some text. Word will automatically start a numbered list for you. Type* and a space before your text, and Word will make a bulleted list.
How can we use bullets and numbering explain with steps? ›- On the View tab, click Normal.
- Click in the text box or placeholder where you want to add bulleted or numbered text.
- On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click Bullets or Numbering. , and begin typing your list. Press Return to create a new list item.
Go to File > Options > Proofing. Select AutoCorrect Options, and then select the AutoFormat As You Type tab. Select or clear Automatic bulleted lists or Automatic numbered lists.
What are bullets very short answer? ›A bullet is a small piece of metal with a pointed or rounded end, which is fired out of a gun.
What is a bullet answer? ›Alternatively called a bullet point, a bullet is an asterisk, black dot, circle, or another mark found before the text. Bullet lists identify key items or denote significance when order does not matter.
How do you list bullet points correctly? ›- Think of a bullet point as a mini headline. ...
- Highlight elements key to understanding the content of your article. ...
- Keep it simple. ...
- Keep bullets thematically related. ...
- Make your bullet points symmetrical . . . just like the ones here. ...
- Work in keywords. ...
- Don't overdo it.
The effective use of bullet points in business writing can help highlight important information, direct the reader to themed lists, and improve a document's overall readability.
Why do we use the bulleted or numbered list? ›To draw visual attention to items in a list without implying that items go in a certain order (e.g., chronology, importance, priority), use a bulleted list. Use a numbered list if you want to display items in a numbered series. Use a lettered list if you want to emphasize separate parallel items within a sentence.
Why is numbering in Word so difficult? ›Numbering in Word is difficult to understand because Word attempts to hide "complexity" from us. In many cases, it provides insufficient detail in the explanation of features. Regrettably, a simplistic explanation does not help understanding of a complex subject.
How do I fix numbering issues in Word? ›
- Double-click the numbers in the list. The text won't appear selected.
- Right-click the number you want to change.
- Click Set Numbering Value.
- In the Set value to: box, use the arrows to change the value to the number you want.
The most common forms are the heavy black dot ( ● ) and the open circle ( ○ ). Other common bullet choices include squares (filled and open), diamonds, dashes and checkmarks.
What are the 5 types of bullets? ›- Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) ...
- Hollow Point (HP) ...
- Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) ...
- Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) ...
- Soft Point (SP) ...
- Wad Cutter (WC) ...
- Semi-Wad Cutters (SWC) ...
- Ballistic Tip (BT)
Items in a bulleted list are preceded by a bullet ● or other symbol. Items in numbered lists are preceded by a number or letter.
What is an example sentence for bullet? ›Example Sentences
He was killed by an assassin's bullet. Bullets were used to separate each item. The quarterback threw a bullet to the receiver.
A bullet point is supposed to be a short summation of the key point that you want to make. It should not reveal all you know about the idea, or there is nothing left for you to say. For each idea you want to convey, consider what the key point is and put that as a bullet point.
Should numbered lists have full stops? ›Numbered lists may appear with or without the period after the number. One has flexibility in choosing styles for punctuating lists, as long as consistency is maintained within a document.
How do you write a numbered list in a sentence? ›There are several ways to give an enumerated (numbered) list in sentence form. One way is to put the number (not the number word) in parentheses, like this: I came up with three reasons: (1) this is my first reason, (2) this is my second reason, and (3) this is my third reason.
Should dot points have full stops? ›If a complete sentence introduces the bulleted list, each item in the list should end with a full stop, not a colon, and each point should begin with a capital letter.
What is the purpose of bullet points? ›What are bullet points? Bullet points are used to list out items in your content. They help you effectively communicate your message because they capture the attention of readers who prefer scannable content.
When should you not use bullet points? ›
In general, bulleted lists are helpful when you want to quickly and efficiently give a reader important information. In formal writing, it is usually recommended to not overuse bulleted lists and save them for when you really need to capture an audience's attention.
What is the importance of numbered list? ›Use numbered lists when the order of the listed items is important and ideas must be expressed in chronological order. For example, use a numbered list when you must enumerate a series of steps in instructions, or when you are introducing ideas that will be discussed in a certain order in the following text.
What is the easiest way to number a Word document? ›On the Insert tab, click the Page Number icon, and then click Page Number. Select a location, and then pick an alignment style. Word automatically numbers every page, except designated title pages. To change the numbering style, select Format and then choose the formatting you want to use.
Why are my bullet points not lining up in Word? ›Click the File tab and then click Options. Click Advanced. Under Compatibility options for, expand Layout Options, click to select the Don't use hanging indent as tab stop for bullets and numbering check box, and then click OK.
How do I stop numbers splitting in Word? ›In the Paragraph dialog box, click the Line and Page Breaks tab. In the Pagination section, select the Keep lines together check box, and click OK.
How do you clean Numbering in Word? ›On the Page Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click Line Numbers. Do one of the following: To remove line numbers from the entire document or section, click None. To remove line numbers from a single paragraph, click Suppress for Current Paragraph.
How do you format consistent in word? ›You can get much more consistent—and automatic—spacing by changing your paragraph settings. Start by right-clicking on a paragraph, selecting Paragraph, and going to Indents and Spacing. From there, you can define the spacing before and after your paragraph.
What are bullets and numbered lists used for? ›Bullets and numbering
Manuals often include numbered lists to assist readers with step-by-step instruction. A bullet is usually a black circle, but it can be any other symbol used to highlight items in a list. Use bullets to list items that do not have to be in any particular order.
A variant, the bullet operator ( U+2219 ∙ BULLET OPERATOR) is used as a math symbol, akin to the dot operator. Specifically, in logic, x • y means logical conjunction. It is the same as saying "x and y" (see also List of logic symbols).
How do you use bullets in numbers? ›In the Text pane of the Format inspector, click the Style button. Click the Bullets & Lists disclosure triangle, then choose a bullet style from the pop-up menu in the Bullets & Lists section.
What are numbered bullet points called? ›
Bullet or numbered lists, also known as unordered and ordered lists, can make writing easy to read; however, be careful not to overuse them, as lists that are too long, or multiple lists on one page, can be difficult to read. Lists should only be used when there is more than one entry.
Why do you need to use bullets or numbering in your document? ›The effective use of bullet points in business writing can help highlight important information, direct the reader to themed lists, and improve a document's overall readability.
Why do people use numbered lists? ›Numbered lists are usually reserved for instances in which the items must occur in a specific order, such as steps in a procedure, or when keeping count is important, such as a top 10 list.
When should you use a numbered list? ›Use a numbered list to display complete sentences or paragraphs in a series (e.g., itemized conclusions, steps in a procedure). Use a lettered list or bulleted list rather than a numbered list if the items are phrases.
How do you write bullet points examples? ›- Think of a bullet point as a mini headline. ...
- Highlight elements key to understanding the content of your article. ...
- Keep it simple. ...
- Keep bullets thematically related. ...
- Make your bullet points symmetrical . . . just like the ones here. ...
- Work in keywords. ...
- Don't overdo it.
Based on the general equation for kinetic energy, Ek=½mv2, which directly uses mass (m) and velocity (v), the following formula is used to calculate the kinetic energy of a projectile (expressed in foot-pounds): E=(W*V2)/(14000*gc).
What is an example of a bullet? ›There are many forms of bullets to choose from. The most common forms are the heavy black dot ( ● ) and the open circle ( ○ ). Other common bullet choices include squares (filled and open), diamonds, dashes and checkmarks.
Should I use numbers or letters in bullet points? ›When you read the stem and a bullet point together, the text should make sense. Numbered points are very similar in format to bulleted points except that you usually use numbers when the order of the list is important - for example the agenda for a meeting. You can also use letters for this.
When should you use a numbered list instead of a bulleted list? ›Use a bulleted list for unordered items; use a numbered list for ordered items. In other words: If you rearrange the items in a bulleted list, the list's meaning does not change. If you rearrange the items in a numbered list, the list's meaning changes.
Should a bulleted list have full stops? ›Each bullet point: starts with a capital letter. finishes with a full stop.