Bullet points are graphic elements used to indicate an unordered list of items, often used in technical manuals and presentations. They allow for user creativity in style and shape, and grammar rules dictate the use of semicolons and periods. Proper spacing is important for a professional look.
A bullet is a typographical symbol used to indicate an unordered list of items. It is also sometimes called a glyph, which in typography is a term for a graphic element with the express purpose of adding structure to text. Bullet points are often included in documents such as technical manuals, outlined notes, and various types of presentations. Breaking up a section of text into a series of bullet points can often make technical and detailed information easier for readers to understand and retain. Depending on the topic and its complexity, each bullet point may be followed by a single word, a word paired with its definition, or a relevant short phrase.
Unlike numbers in an ordered list, bullets in a bulleted list indicate that the order of items can be rearranged without changing the meaning of the information. Modern word processing software allows for a fair amount of user creativity when it comes to bullet styles. Bullets often have a round black dot as the default symbol, but a user can easily change this setting and create bullets of various shapes and colors if he prefers. Check marks, squares, triangles, and diamonds are usually standard choices for bullet points in most word processing programs. Like these types of list symbols clipart icons and even small images can also be selected.
Information in a bulleted list is sometimes used as part of a summary, and the grammar rules associated with these lists can be slightly different. Because many bulleted lists don’t contain complete sentences, some users may initially be unsure whether to use a period or period after the last word in each item. Generally accepted grammar rules for these lists dictate that every item except the last must end with a semicolon. Generally, the last word of a bulleted list should be followed by a period, although in many cases these lists are still considered acceptable with no period at the end.
Standard graphic design conventions for bullet points require specific spacing between lines. A common mistake some document designers make is to indent the text of each bulleted item so that it doesn’t align properly with the text immediately before and after the list. The result can appear cluttered visually and give an otherwise tidy page or presentation a subtly unprofessional look.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
