Use lists to reduce word length and make your communications more concise.
Use bullets for lists of points when order of items does not matter. Introduce your list with a clear, concise and a descriptive heading and an introductory sentence. Limit the number of items in a single list to no more than nine with no more than two levels.
Lists featuring bullet points can be presented using sentence fragments or full sentences. Don’t punctuate the end of a bullet point. Don’t use a capital at the start of a bullet point unless the point is a full sentence.
Bullet point lists are ideal for clearly displaying information that would otherwise create long sentences with lots of commas.
Bullet points can be used to display general lists of words or terms that are not full sentences, and can also accurately present lists where each bullet point is a full sentence.
When a bullet point list is to be used for a general list the lead in phrase, all the bullet points and the closing phrase form one sentence. Therefore each bullet point begins in lower case unless it is a proper noun, and does not contain a full stop. The full stop appears at the end of the closing phrase, or can also end on the last bullet point if no closing phrase is required. The following two examples are both correct.
Example One
All headings should be:
- clear
- prominent
- left aligned
- in Neo Sans font; and
- in title case
to be brand compliant.
Example Two
To be brand compliant, all headings should be:
- clear
- prominent
- left aligned
- in Neo Sans font; and
- in title case
When a bullet point list is to be used for emphasis on full sentences, it should be preceded with a lead in phrase that gives each bullet pointed sentence clear context.
For example, you bullet point list should observe the following rules:
- The lead in phrase should end with a colon and provide context to each bulleted item.
- Each bullet point should begin with a capital letter
- Each bulleted point should make grammatical sense as a stand alone sentence
When you want to use a list for punctuating sub phrases, follow the rules outlined in Punctuated Lists (of sub phrases).
Numbered Lists
Use numbered lists when describing a sequential or step process in which the order of items is critical, or when you may need to reference particular points elsewhere.
The following two examples are correct.
Example One
Please read the FKP Brand Guidelines in the following order:
1. Brand Story
2. Brand Architecture
3. Written Style Guide
Example Two
Recommendations
1. Online
Intranet
Websites
Electronic Direct Mail
2. Print
Annual Report
Future Living
Business Cards
Project marketing materials
See below for more information on punctuating sub phrases.
Punctuated lists (of sub phrases)
When you choose to display information in a punctuated list, always ensure:
1.1 that the opening phrase reads as a natural 'lead phrase' for each sub phrase on the list;
1.2 use a colon at the end of the opening phrase;
1.3 start each sub phrase with a lower case letter;
1.4 use a semicolon at the end of each sub phrase;
1.5 use ‘and’ or ‘or’ at the end of the second last sub phrase (to clarify whether the sub phrases are cumulative or alternative); and
1.6 finish the final sub phrase with a full stop, or with a semi colon (not a comma) if it continues on (as it does in this case);
then you will be sure your numbered or bulleted list is correct.
The closing phrase should read as a natural closing phrase for each sub phrase on the list.