Bullet Point Punctuation
Punctuate bullet points consistently to list information clearly, applying conventions for capitalisation, end punctuation, and parallel structure across items
What a learner can do afterwards
- Create bullet point lists with consistent capitalisation and punctuation throughout
- Use full stops for bullet points that are complete sentences and no punctuation for fragments
- Maintain parallel grammatical structure across all items in a bulleted list
The lesson
Bullet lists are easiest to read when every line follows the same pattern. Look at how each bullet starts and ends. If one bullet starts with a capital letter, they all should. If one bullet ends with a full stop, they all should too.
Zara made a list of morning jobs: Make your bed., Brush your teeth., Pack your bag. Each bullet is a full sentence, so every one starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
Zara also wrote a shopping list: Milk, Eggs, Bread. These are just words, not full sentences, so none of them need a full stop.
Keep the grammar the same in every bullet too. If one bullet starts with an action word like Pack, make every bullet start with an action word, not a mix of Packing and Bags are packed.
Pick one style for your whole list: same capital letters, same end punctuation, same grammar pattern in every bullet.
Watch it
Where it sits
This opens up
Nothing builds on it yet.
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.