Digital Content: Use Proper Lists

Use lists to identify steps and lists of items. For lists with additional secondary information use sub-lists. 

Using Lists

• Use a bulleted (unordered) list if you have a list of more than two items in a row and order doesn't matter.
• Use a numbered (ordered) list if you have more than one step in step-by-step instructions. For steps use numbers (1, 2, 3...) and for sub-steps use lower alpha (a, b, c…) then lower roman (i, ii, iii...). If there is only one sub-step, use a bullet.
• Use the built in list functions on a page when available. 
  • If a page allows HTML, use the <li> list type.  
  • If the page uses a WYSIWYG editor, use the list function.
• If possible, list no more than nine steps or items. People can most easily read lists with five to nine steps or items. 
• Some processes with more than nine steps can easily be chunked but not all. If you can't break a lengthy list of steps into sub-topic(s) or a lengthy series into defined sections, try to make sub-step groups. 
• Although screen readers can detect bulleted (unordered) lists, they do not usually distinguish levels of indentation. Try to structure your long lists into smaller lists separated by headings. Find more information and examples on Accessible U: Lists.
• Example
  • In the example below, step 8 serves as subheading for steps a, b, and c. Otherwise, there would be 12 steps in the process.
  • Creating a Calculated Item
    1. Click the Formulas button on the ribbon.
    2. Select Calculated Item.
    3. Name the formula.
    4. Press Tab to move to the formula.
    5. Select the appropriate Field (if necessary).
    6. Double-click the appropriate Item(s).
    7. Press the + key on the keyboard.
    8. Continue creating the formula.
       1. Double-click the next Item.
       2. Press the + key on the keyboard.
       3. Repeat steps a) and b) until all Items have been added to the formula.
    9. Click OK.

List Punctuation

• Punctuate bullets consistently. If one bullet ends with a period, end all bullets with a period. 
  • If all bullets are sentences, end each one with a period.
  • If all bullets are phrases or fragments, use no end punctuation.
• Bulleted lists should ideally be introduced by a complete sentence that ends in a colon. There should be no punctuation (no capitalization or ending punctuation) unless they are complete sentences.
  • Example:
    • This update applies to the following operating systems:
      • iOS
      • macOS
      • Android
      • Windows
• The order for sub-lists with ordered lists is: numbered (1,2,3…), lower alpha (a,b,c…), lower roman (i, ii, iii…).

Additional Considerations for Comms

None

Additional Considerations for Knowledge

None

Additional Considerations for Website Content

None