How to create a bulleted or numbered list in Word (311877)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q311877
The Microsoft Office Word 2003 version of this article is available from Office Online. To see Office Online, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/CH060831641033.aspx

SUMMARY

This article provides a step-by-step summary of how to create a bulleted or numbered list in Microsoft Word.

In Word, you can add bullets to existing lines of text, or you can automatically create bulleted lists as you type. To use either of these approaches, use one of the following methods, as appropriate to your situation.

Method 1: Add bullets or numbering to existing text

To add bullets or numbering to a list of existing text items, follow these steps:
  1. Start Word, and then open your document.
  2. Select the list items to which you want to add bullets or numbering.
  3. On the Formatting toolbar, do one of the following:
    • Click the Bullets button if you want to add bullets.
    • Click the Numbering button if you want to add numbering.
    The default (or the currently selected) bullet or number format is added to the list items.

Method 2: Add a bulleted or numbered list format to existing text

You can use a bulleted or numbered list format to add bullets or numbering to a list of existing text items. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start Word, and then open your document.
  2. Select the list items to which you want to add bullets or numbering.
  3. On the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering, and then do one of the following:
    • Click the Bulleted tab if you want to add bullets.
    • Click the Numbered tab if you want to add numbering.
  4. Click the bulleted or numbered list format that you want, and then click OK.

    The bulleted or numbered format is added to the list items.

Method 3: Create a bulleted list or numbered list as you type

If you have not started a list yet, you can create a bulleted list or a numbered list automatically as you type. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start Word, and then open your document.
  2. Do one of the following, as appropriate to your version of Word:
    • In Word 2000, click AutoCorrect on the Tools menu, and then click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
    • In Word 2002, click AutoCorrect Options on the Tools menu, and then click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
  3. Under Apply as you type, do one or both of the following, and then click OK:
    • Click to select the Automatic bulleted lists check box (if it is not already selected).
    • Click to select the Automatic numbered lists check box (if it is not already selected).
  4. Do one of the following:
    • Type 1. if you want to start a numbered list.
    • Type * (the asterisk character) if you want to start a bulleted list.
  5. Press the SPACEBAR key.
  6. Type your text, and then press ENTER.

    Word automatically inserts the next number or bullet at the beginning of the line.
  7. Repeat step 6 to create additional list items.
  8. To finish the list, press ENTER twice.

Method 4: Outline numbered lists and outline bulleted lists

Create an outline numbered list

To create an outline numbered list, follow these steps:
  1. Start Word, and then open your document.
  2. On the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering, and then click the Outline Numbered tab.
  3. Select any list style in the top row, and then click OK.

    NOTE: Do not select a style that contains the text "Heading 1".

    The first number of the list is displayed in your document.
  4. Type your list text; be sure to press ENTER after each item.

    Word automatically inserts numbers in sequence at the beginning of each line at the first level.
  5. To move an outline numbered item to the level that you want, do one of the following:
    • To demote an item to a lower level, select the item, and then click Increase Indent.
    • To promote an item to a higher level, select the item, and then click Decrease Indent.

      The item is moved to the level that you specify, and the appropriate numbering level is inserted at the beginning of the line.

Create an outline bulleted list

To create an outline bulleted list, follow these steps:
  1. Start Word, and then open your document.
  2. On the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering, and then click the Outline Numbered tab.
  3. Select any list style in the top row, and then click Customize.

    NOTE: Do not select a style that contains the text "Heading 1".
  4. In the Level box, click 1.
  5. In the Number style box, select an existing bullet, or click New Bullet to select the bullet that you want.
  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to add additional levels to your list. Select a different level and a different bullet for each level of your list.
  7. Click OK.

    A bullet is displayed for the first level of your list.
  8. Type your list text; be sure to press ENTER after each item.

    Bullets are automatically inserted at the beginning of each line at the first level.
  9. To move a bulleted item to the level that you want, do one of the following:
    • To demote an item to a lower level, click the item, and then click Increase Indent.
    • To promote an item to a higher level, click the item, and then click Decrease Indent.

      The item is moved to the level that you specify, and the appropriate bullet for that level is inserted at the beginning of the line.

REFERENCES

For more information about how to create bulleted or numbered lists, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type add bullets or numbering in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.
For more information about how to create a picture bulleted list in Word, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

309364 How to create a picture bulleted list in Word

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:5/5/2006
Keywords:kbHOWTOmaster kbinfo KB311877
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