Lists help to organize content on a screen and make it easier for people to scan for information. Keep lists as simple as possible. When possible, avoid compound lists (i.e. lists within lists). Compound lists can be confusing, particularly for non-visual users. Consider breaking complicated lists into separate sections with formatted headings.

Types of List 

In most text editors you can choose from two types of lists: bulleted and numbered. These features help to create a list that is coded to "talk" to assistive technologies such as screen readers. They provide the underlying code needed to read a list correctly. Not using the built-in features could cause a list to be just text. Using only a dash or a plain text number will cause the list to be read as a long run-on sentence and can be confusing.

Bulleted lists

Bulleted lists are for unordered lists or list that do not have any particular rank.  The last bullet point could switch with the first bullet point in an unordered list.

If you find yourself using more than three commas to list things off in a sentence, consider using a bulleted list instead. Also, avoid lists within a list or sub-bullets, when possible. Consider breaking these complicated lists into separate sections with formatted headings

Numbered lists

Numbered lists represent items that rely on rank order. You cannot switch the order without confusing the sequence.

Which to choose?

When deciding which list type to choose, think of a recipe. The list of ingredients used should be a bulleted list and the directions a numbered list. Order does not matter in the list of the ingredients, but it is important for the steps of the recipe to be completed in a specific order for the recipe to turn out correctly.

For unordered lists, think of a recipe card. The list of ingredients do not need to be in a specific order to be understood.

• sugar
• peanut butter
• eggs

For orderd lists, think of the same recipe card's instructions. The step by step instructions need to be in a specific order to make sense and complete the task.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix peanut butter, sugar, and eggs.
3. Add spoonfuls of dough on a lined cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes.

Resources

• Microsoft: Create a bulleted or numbered list [video]Links to an external site.
• Create Bullet or Numbered Lists in CanvasLinks to an external site.
• Tagging Lists in a PDF in Adobe Acrobat
• Creating a List in CampusPress 
• HTML lists