Create a bulleted or numbered list

You can quickly add bullets or numbers to existing lines of text, or Word can automatically create lists as you type.

By default, if you start a paragraph with an asterisk or a number 1., Word recognizes that you are trying to start a bulleted or numbered list. If you don't want your text turned into a list, you can click the AutoCorrect Options button that appears.In this article

Lists: One level or many levels

Create a one-level bulleted or numbered list

Turn a one-level list into a multilevel list

Choose a multilevel list style from the gallery

Lists: One level or many levels

Make a list with just one level, or make a multilevel list to show lists within a list.

When you create a bulleted or numbered list, you can do any of the following:

• Use the convenient Bullet and Numbering libraries Use the default bullet and numbering formats for lists, customize the lists, or select other formats from the Bullet and Numbering libraries.

  

• Format bullets or numbers Format bullets or numbers differently from the text in a list. For example, click a number and change the number color for the entire list, without making changes to the text in the list.

  

• Use pictures or symbols Create a picture bulleted list to add visual interest to a document or a Web page.

  

Create a one-level bulleted or numbered list

Word can automatically create bulleted and numbered lists as you type, or you can quickly add bullets or numbers to existing lines of text.

Type a bulleted or numbered list

1. Type * (asterisk) to start a bulleted list or 1. to start a numbered list, and then press SPACEBAR or the TAB key.
2. Type any text that you want.
3. Press ENTER to add the next list item.

   Word automatically inserts the next bullet or number.

4. To finish the list, press ENTER twice, or press BACKSPACE to delete the last bullet or number in the list.

If bullets and numbering do not begin automatically

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click Word Options.
2. Click Proofing.
3. Click AutoCorrect Options, and then click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
4. Under Apply as you type, select the Automatic bulleted lists check box and the Automatic numbered lists check box.

Add bullets or numbering to a list

1. Select the items that you want to add bullets or numbering to.
2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click Bullets or Numbering.

   

Notes:

• You can find different bullet styles and numbering formats by clicking the arrow next to Bullets or Numbering on the Home tab, in the Paragraph group.

• You can move an entire list to the left or the right. Click a bullet or number in the list, and drag it to a new location. The entire list moves as you drag. The numbering levels do not change.

Spread out the items in a list

You can increase the space between the lines in all of your lists by clearing a check box.

1. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click the arrow next to Styles, and then right-click the List Paragraph style.

   

2. Click Modify.
3. In the Modify Style dialog box, click Format, and then click Paragraph.
4. Clear the Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style check box.

Turn a one-level list into a multilevel list

You can turn an existing list into a multilevel list by changing the hierarchical level of items in the list.

1. Click any item that you want to move to a different level.
2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Bullets or Numbering, click Change List Level, and then click the level that you want.

   

Choose a multilevel list style from the gallery

You can apply a gallery style to any multilevel list.

1. Click an item in the list.
2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the arrow next to Multilevel List.

   

3. Click the multilevel list style that you want.

See also:

• Add picture bullets or symbols to a list