- Three ways to add bullet points
- Turn existing text into bullet points
- Start a list as you type
- End the list
- Add sub-points with indented bullets
- Change the bullet symbol
- Fix spacing and alignment
- Bullets versus numbers
- Keep bullet points short
- Bullet points in Word for the web and on a Mac
- When the asterisk doesn't make a list
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To add bullet points in Word, select the lines you want as a list and click Bullets on the Home tab. Or type an asterisk and a space at the start of a line and Word starts a bulleted list for you. Press Enter twice to end the list.
Bullet points make a document easier to scan, whether it's a proposal, a meeting agenda or a list of instructions. Word gives you three quick ways to add them, plus options to change the bullet style and create indented sub-points. The fiddly part is usually stopping the list or getting the spacing right, so I've covered that too.
Three ways to add bullet points
| Method | Best when |
|---|---|
| Home tab, Bullets button | Turning lines you've already typed into a list |
| Type an asterisk and a space | Starting a list as you type |
| Keyboard shortcut Ctrl, Shift and L | Quick bullets without the mouse on Windows |
Turn existing text into bullet points
- Select the lines you want in the list. Each line, ended by Enter, becomes one bullet.
- On the Home tab, click Bullets, the button with three dots and lines.
- To pick a different bullet style, click the small arrow beside the button and choose from the library.
Start a list as you type
Microsoft's tip: type an asterisk followed by a space at the start of a line, then your text. Word turns it into a bulleted list automatically. Press Enter for the next bullet. Typing 1, a full stop and a space does the same for a numbered list.
End the list
Press Enter twice at the end of the last bullet. The first press makes an empty bullet; the second turns bullets off and gives you a normal paragraph. Microsoft describes it as pressing Enter until the bullets switch off. You can also click the Bullets button again to switch them off for the current line.
Add sub-points with indented bullets
- Put the cursor at the start of a bullet you want to indent.
- Press Tab. It moves in a level and the bullet style changes.
- Press Shift and Tab to move it back out.
For a formal numbered structure with main points and sub-points, use Multilevel List on the Home tab, next to Bullets and Numbering.
Change the bullet symbol
Word lets you define your own bullets. Click the arrow beside Bullets, choose Define New Bullet, then pick a Symbol, a Picture or a Font for the bullet. Brand colours or a simple tick look smart in proposals. Keep it subtle in long documents, because fancy bullets get tiring to read.
Fix spacing and alignment
- To move bullets closer to the text, right-click a bullet and choose Adjust List Indents.
- To stop extra space between bullets, select the list, open Paragraph settings and tick the option not to add space between paragraphs of the same style.
- If a bullet sits on its own with the text on the next line, check for a manual line break and delete it.
- To make every list match, apply bullets through the List Bullet style rather than the button each time.
Bullets versus numbers
Use bullets when the order doesn't matter, such as a list of benefits or things to bring. Use numbers when it does, such as steps someone has to follow, or when you'll refer back to an item by number in a meeting. You can switch a list either way with one click: select it and press Numbering instead of Bullets. Don't mix the two in a single list; if a step has options, make the options indented bullets under the numbered step.
Keep bullet points short
Bullets work because they're quick to read. Aim for one idea per bullet and a line or two at most. If a bullet runs to a paragraph, it's probably a paragraph. Start each bullet the same way, with a verb or a noun, so the list reads smoothly, and don't end some bullets with full stops and others without. Consistency is what makes a list look tidy.
Bullet points in Word for the web and on a Mac
Word for the web and Word for Mac have the same Bullets button on the Home tab, and the asterisk trick works in both. On a Mac, the indent keys are the same: Tab to indent and Shift and Tab to come back out.
When the asterisk doesn't make a list
Automatic lists are controlled by AutoFormat. On Windows, go to File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options, then the AutoFormat As You Type tab, and tick Automatic bulleted lists. If you'd rather Word didn't do it, untick it there. Right after Word creates a list automatically you'll also see a small lightning icon, which lets you undo it just that once.
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My verdict
Select your lines and click Bullets, or type an asterisk and a space to start a list as you go. Use Tab and Shift and Tab for sub-points, Enter twice to finish, and Adjust List Indents when the spacing looks off. That covers almost every bullet point you'll ever need in Word.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add bullet points in Word?
Select your text and click Bullets on the Home tab, or type an asterisk and a space.
What is the shortcut for bullet points in Word?
On Windows, Ctrl, Shift and L applies the List Bullet style.
How do I stop bullet points in Word?
Press Enter twice at the end of the list.
How do I indent a bullet point in Word?
Press Tab to indent and Shift and Tab to move it back.
How do I change the bullet symbol in Word?
Click the arrow beside Bullets and choose Define New Bullet.
Why doesn't typing an asterisk make a list?
Automatic bulleted lists may be turned off in AutoCorrect Options.
