Bullet Points

About Bullet Points

Bullet points are typographical marks used to introduce items in a list, making content more scannable and digestible. From simple circles to decorative symbols, bullets help organize information and guide readers through structured content.

What Are Bullet Points?

A bullet point (•) is a typographical mark used to introduce items in a list. Common bullet symbols include:

• • (U+2022) - The standard bullet, most commonly used for lists
• ◦ (U+25E6) - White bullet, often used for nested sub-lists
• ▪ (U+25AA) - Black small square, a popular alternative shape
• ‣ (U+2023) - Triangular bullet, useful for directional emphasis
• → (U+2192) - Rightwards arrow, indicates progression or sequence

History and Origins

The first recorded use of bullet points was in the 15th century, where they were used as decorative elements in manuscripts. Before bullets became common, the index symbol ☞ (representing a hand with a pointing index finger) was popular for indicating important items in lists.

When typewriters became widely used in the early 20th century, people preparing typed documents found it too cumbersome to renumber lists while editing. They started using asterisks (*) as placeholders instead of numbers. Printers then took these asterisk-marked lists and replaced them with typographical bullet symbols (•) in the final printed documents.

Bullet Shapes and Styles

Bullet symbols come in various shapes and styles to suit different contexts:

• Circular: • ● ○ ◉ - Classic round bullets, the most common choice
• Square: ■ □ ▪ ▫ - Sharp, modern appearance for technical content
• Diamond: ◆ ◇ ⬥ - Elegant, distinctive markers for special emphasis
• Triangular: ▸ ▹ ▴ - Directional bullets suggesting movement or hierarchy
• Star: ★ ☆ ✦ - Eye-catching bullets for highlights or favorites
• Arrow: → ➔ ➤ - Sequential bullets indicating progression or steps
• Decorative: ❥ ❧ ✱ - Ornamental bullets for creative or artistic contexts

Typography Best Practices

Following these guidelines ensures your bullets enhance readability:

• Size and Position: Bullets should be optically centered on neighboring text. If list items begin with a capital letter, center bullets on the cap height
• Spacing: Don't rely on default spacing between bullets and text—customize it for optimal balance and clarity
• Consistency: Use the same bullet style throughout a document or section for visual coherence
• Font Selection: Sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica work well with bullets for maximum legibility
• Color: Bullets typically match body text color, though brand colors can add professional polish
• Hierarchy: Use different bullet styles for nested lists (e.g., • for main points, ◦ for sub-points)

Content Guidelines

Effective bullet points follow these content principles:

• Length: Keep lists to about seven items maximum. Longer lists should be broken into categories or reorganized
• Structure: Maintain parallel structure—all items should be complete sentences, all phrases, or all single words, not mixed
• Punctuation: If bullets are complete sentences, capitalize and punctuate them. If they're phrases, punctuation is optional
• Brevity: Keep individual bullet points concise and scannable
• Key Information: Use bullets to highlight important points, not for entire paragraphs

Common Uses

Bullet points are used extensively across various content types:

• Documentation: Technical manuals, user guides, and instructional materials
• Presentations: Slides and visual aids for conveying key points
• Web Content: Blog posts, product descriptions, and feature lists
• Resumes: Job descriptions, skills lists, and accomplishments
• Email: Action items, summaries, and meeting agendas
• Reports: Executive summaries, findings, and recommendations
• Marketing: Product features, benefits, and comparison charts

Choosing the Right Bullet

Different contexts call for different bullet styles:

• Professional Documents: Simple circles (• ○) or squares (■ □) maintain clean, formal appearance
• Sequential Steps: Arrow bullets (→ ➜) emphasize progression and order
• Nested Lists: Vary shapes by level (• at top level, ◦ at second level, ▪ at third)
• Creative Content: Decorative bullets (❧ ✱) add visual interest to artistic or casual writing
• Emphasis: Star bullets (★) highlight favorites, top picks, or special items
• Technical Content: Square bullets (▪ ■) suit code documentation and technical specifications

Technical Implementation

Bullet symbols can be implemented in several ways:

• Direct Unicode: Copy and paste symbols directly from this page
• HTML: Use <ul> and <li> tags with CSS list-style-type, or insert Unicode characters
• CSS: Custom bullets via content property in ::before pseudo-elements
• Markdown: Simple asterisks (*), hyphens (-), or plus signs (+) for unordered lists
• Word Processors: Character map or Alt codes for special bullet symbols

All bullet symbols on this page are standard Unicode characters that render consistently across modern browsers, operating systems, and devices.

Accessibility

When using custom bullets in digital content:

• Use semantic HTML lists (<ul>, <ol>) for proper screen reader support
• Ensure sufficient color contrast between bullets and background
• Avoid relying solely on bullet shape to convey meaning
• Test custom bullets across different devices and browsers