Bite the Bullet
Using Bullets to Organize Lists, Emphasize Points

Some symbol fonts are designed with nothing but bullets — in various shapes and sizes including squares, triangles, or checkmarks. Other symbol or dingbat fonts contain more elaborate bullets and mini-clip art images.

Quick Design Lessons • Accent Marks • Bold Type • Bullets • Leaders • Page Numbers • Rules • Small Caps • Thumbnails

Examples of Bullets
LEFT: The solid round bullet can be found in most fonts. The other simple and fancy bullets shown here come from dingbat fonts (Common Bullets and Zapf Dingbats).

Designing with Bullets and Bullet Lists

• While you may use bullets to draw attention to text, don't let them overpower it. Bullets that are too large or too elaborate get in the way of the message. (You can set the point size of bullets just like any other text.)
• Dingbats used as bullets are fine, but choose simple dingbats. Fine detail is lost at bullet size.

  LEFT: In the first list, bullets are too large and too close to the text. In the second list, what is that symbol supposed to be? The fine lines of these bullets are all but invisible.

  
  
• For simple lists, space between bulleted items isn't usually necessary. For bulleted lists with blocks of copy (such as this list) it is usually best to put space between each item.
• When using a bullet for blocks of text, it looks best if you indent the second and subsequent lines of text rather than letting them line up underneath the bullet.
• Unless you have a very good reason to do so, it is usually best to stick with the same bullet style for all lists throughout a document such as a report or brochure. Exceptions might include a manual with simple bulleted lists throughout the text but with a checklist style list (perhaps with hollow square bullets to encourage a user to actually 'check off' completed items) at the end of each chapter.
• The default bulleted text tool in some software programs puts too large a gap between the bullet and the text. Adjust the spacing but do leave some space — bullets that are too close to the text can hinder readability.
  
  Left: In the first example, the default spacing is really too much.


• Use bullets outside of lists to draw attention to elements on a page. For example:
  • Call to Action: A telephone symbol next to the phone number in an ad
  • Call to Action: A pencil or an envelope beside the mailing address
  • Call-outs: A pointing hand or lightbulb next to a tip in a manual
  • Call-out: A bomb or other 'danger' symbol for a warning blurb in a manual

Making Bullets

• Bullet symbol (•):
  • Windows: ALT+0149
  • Mac: Option + 8
  • HTML: & #149; (with no space)
• How to Create a Bullet List in a PageMaker Document
• How to Create Lists in HTML (for Web pages)
• How to Creat a Bullet List in WordPad