When and how to punctuate a bullet point list: Guidance and examples

What is a bullet point?

A bullet point is a symbol that you can use to create a list. Whether you’re writing a bulleted list or typing one, there are different symbols you can use. Dots, squares, diamonds, and the bullet symbol are just a few examples of the symbols you can incorporate in your list. Place the symbol at the start of each idea in your list so that they’re distinguished from one another.

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When should you punctuate a bullet point list?

There are instances where adding punctuation to a bullet point list is warranted. However, there are also times where the punctuation is unnecessary. You’ll want to add bullet point punctuation to your list when:

The bullet point is a sentence

Should bullet point lists have periods? It depends. Just follow basic grammar rules when writing them. If the bullet point contains a sentence, you should add a period to the end of it just as you would with any other sentence you write. For example, if you’re describing what you saw at a local zoo, you could say:

Things I saw while I was at the zoo:

• A lioness licked her cub’s fur.
• A giraffe ate leaves off the tree.
• A polar bear walked in its cave.

All three bullet points include standalone sentences, and therefore, they should have periods at the end of them.

Completing an introductory stem

Add periods at the end of each of your bullet points if they rely on an introductory stem to form complete sentences. Each item in your list forms a complete sentence when it’s paired with the introductory clause. For example, if you’re talking about planning a family vacation, you might say:

When planning a family vacation, I need to:

• buy new suitcases for the kids.
• find a dog sitter for Bruce.
• pack winter gloves for the family.

Because each bullet point forms a complete sentence when read with the introductory stem, you should add punctuation to the end of each item. However, note that the first word in each bullet point isn’t capitalized in this example. When you’re pairing the bullet point with another clause, you should lowercase the first word, unless it’s a proper noun, because a capitalized word wouldn’t normally appear in the middle of a standalone sentence.

Other rules for writing bullet point lists

Now that you know a little about bullet point punctuation, it’s important to know the instants where you won’t need to add punctuation.

When to omit punctuation

If neither of the above two rules apply, you more than likely won’t need to add punctuation to your bullet point list. Punctuation isn’t required if your bullet points aren’t complete sentences or paired with an introductory stem. For example, if you’re making a grocery shopping list, you could write:

Things I need to buy at the grocery store:

• Milk
• Cheese
• Eggs
• Chicken

In this example, the bullet points aren’t complete sentences, so you don’t need to add punctuation to them. There also isn’t an introductory clause to pair them with, so you won’t need to add periods to the end of them.

Be consistent

Consistency is important when you’re writing a bullet point list. Don’t mix up sentences, introductory stems, and single-word bullet points within the same list. Use the same punctuation guidelines when the bullet point lists have the same structure.

If you’re writing based on specific guidelines, there might be rules in place that tell you how you should punctuate bullet point lists. Check those guidelines first, and you should also check local style guides so that your writing is consistent with what’s been previously published. Applying the same punctuation rules to your writing ensures your writing is clear and organized without distracting the reader with small, inconsistent details.