Chicago Style Vertical Lists
The major style guides are just as complex. The 15th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style (I don’t have a copy of the most recent edition) included five pages on lists, four of them devoted to “vertical” lists (aka bullet lists). Formatting Vertical Lists. Only the Chicago Manual of Style gives the topic the respect it deserves. Experts have raised valid concerns that people overuse lists in PowerPoint presentations (1) and for presenting complex information (2), but the scant attention to lists in most style guides has always baffled me because you can hardly open.
Chicago Style Vertical Lists Free
Lists are useful because they emphasize selected information in regular text. When you see a list of three or four items strung out vertically on the page rather than in normal paragraph format, you naturally notice it more and are likely to pay more attention to it.
Bulleted List Example
Certain types of lists also make for easier reading. For example, in instructions, it is a big help for each step to be numbered and separate from the preceding and following steps.