Reference number: CH000686

How do I create a bulleted and number list in Microsoft Word?

Question:

How do I create a bulleted and numbered list in Microsoft Word?

Answer:

This document should answer any of the questions you may have about creating different types of bulleted and numbered lists in Microsoft Word including any advanced types of lists. This document applies to Microsoft Word 2000; however, other versions of Microsoft Word should have similar steps.

Above is an illustration of the numbering and bullets button located on the formatting toolbar, which is often located on the top left of the screen.

How to create a bullet list in Microsoft Word
How to create a numbered list in Microsoft Word
How to create a numbered list with letters
How to create multiple paragraphs without creating a new bullet or number
How to create a bullet list with a numbered list
How to create a numbered list with a bulleted list
How to change the types of bullets used or change the appearance of the numbers

How to create a bullet list in Microsoft Word

To create a bulleted list in Microsoft Word, follow the below steps.

1. Position the cursor where you wish to insert the bullet list.
2. Either click on the bullet button (as shown at the beginning of the document) or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."
3. If successful, you should have a bullet. Type any text and press enter to start the next bullet. To end the bullet list, press enter twice.

Below is an example of a bullet list.

• One bullet
• Two bullet

How to create a numbered list in Microsoft Word

To create a numbered list in Microsoft Word, follow the below steps.

1. Position the cursor where you wish to insert the number list.
2. Either click on the number button (as shown at the beginning of the document) or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."
3. If successful, you should have a number one. Type any text and press enter to start the next bullet. To end the bullet list, press enter twice.

Above is an example of a numbered list.

How to create a numbered list with letters

To create a numbered list that also contains a letter list in Microsoft Word, follow the below steps.

1. Position the cursor where you wish to insert the number list.
2. Either click on the number button (as shown at the beginning of the document) or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."
3. When you wish to enter a letter list, press the indent button or press tab on the keyboard.
4. If you with to change the type of lettering format or if it is improperly working, click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..." again to change the formatting.

Below is an example of a numbered list with letters in it.

1. One numbered
2. Two numbered
        a. Two numbered again
        b. Two numbered again
3. Final numbered

How to create multiple paragraphs without creating a new bullet or number

In some situation you may need to have multiple paragraphs in a numbered or bullet list. To do this, follow the below steps.

1. Position the cursor where you wish to insert the number list.
2. Either click on the number button or bullet button (as shown at the beginning of the document) or click Format and then Bullets and Numbering.
3. When you're ready to insert a new line without creating a new bullet or number, press CTRL + Enter.

Below is an example.

1. One numbered
2. Two numbered
   
   More text without a number
   
   
3. Final numbered.

How to create a bullet list with a numbered list

To create a numbered list that also contains a letter list in Microsoft Word, follow the below steps.

1. Position the cursor where you wish to insert the number list.
2. Either click on the bullets button (as shown at the beginning of the document) or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."
3. When ready to insert a numbered list within the bullets, press the bullets button or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."
4. When you need to switch back to bullets, click the numbering button again or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."

How to create a numbered list with a bulleted list

To create a numbered list that also contains a letter list in Microsoft Word, follow the below steps.

1. Position the cursor where you wish to insert the number list.
2. Either click on the number button (as shown at the beginning of the document) or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."
3. When ready to insert a bullet list within the bumbered list, press the numbering button or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."
4. When you need to switch back to the numbered list, click the bullets button again or click Format and then "Bullets and Numbering..."

How to change the types of bullets used or change the appearance of the numbers

After creating the numbering list or the bullets list if you need to change the appearance, click Format and then the "Bullets and Numbering..." option and adjust the format through the new Bullets and Numbering window.

Additional information:

• See our bullet dictionary definition for additional information about this term.
• See our numbering dictionary definition for additional information about this term.