---
title: Lists
description: Format ordered and unordered lists correctly.
image: https://developers.cloudflare.com/cf-twitter-card.png
---

> Documentation Index  
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.cloudflare.com/style-guide/llms.txt  
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

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# Lists

There are three types of lists:

* Bulleted lists for unordered items
* Numbered lists for ordered items
* Embedded lists for items within a sentence

Here are some tips when creating lists:

* Keep list items parallel
* Start numbered lists with a command (imperative verb)
* Consistently punctuate by using appropriate sentence + punctuation within the list (periods for full sentences, etc.)

## Bullet points

Bullet points help the reader's eye focus on a list of important elements.

However, as with any other aspect of writing, they should be used mindfully. Below is a list of when you should and should not resort to bullet points.

| ❌ Do not use bullet points                                                       | ✅ Use bullet points |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- |
| To outline **processes** (prefer numbered lists)                                 | To list **facts**   |
| To explain your reasoning (it is a blog post, not a list of system requirements) | To list **data**    |
| \-                                                                               | To list **options** |

## Bulleted lists

Instructions should be numbered steps and not bullet points. See [steps/tasks/procedures](https://developers.cloudflare.com/style-guide/documentation-content-strategy/component-attributes/steps-tasks-procedures/) for additional information.

Do not punctuate bullet points unless each item is a full sentence.

If bullet point items are followed by a description, use a colon after the heading and capitalize the description. For example,

* **Item 1**: Description 1
* **Item 2**: Description 2

For bullet points, try to stick to the "six-pack" rule: no more than six bullets, each made up of six words or less.

Refer to [The best way to use bullet points ↗](https://thewritinghabit.blog/2016/08/22/best-way-to-use-bullet-points/) for additional guidance.

### Bulleted list checklist

When you find yourself creating a list of bullet points, go through this checklist:

1. Do all bullet points belong together?  
   * Check that all the elements in the list are logically connected.
2. Do I have more three or more bullet points, but less than six?  
   * Readers get lost when reading long lists; at the same time, if you have less than three elements to list, is it necessary to use bullet points?
3. Are all bullet points shorter than three lines of text?  
   * Bullet points should not be used as section headers. If you have excessively long bullet points, consider breaking up the list into several subsections.
4. Is punctuation consistent?  
   * End all elements of a bulleted list with a period if each element is a full sentence; do not add any punctuation if you are just listing nouns or parameters.
5. Do all bullet points start with the most important word we want the reader to remember?  
   * Make sure the "head" of your bullet point is not hiding after a long circumlocution.
6. Do all bullet points start with the same part of speech?  
   * If your bullet points start with verbs, make sure all verbs are in the same mood/tense.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/directory/","name":"Directory"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/style-guide/","name":"Style Guide"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"/style-guide/formatting/","name":"Formatting"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@id":"/style-guide/formatting/structure/","name":"Structure"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@id":"/style-guide/formatting/structure/lists/","name":"Lists"}}]}
```