Accessible List Markup
Create real lists with the authoring tool’s list function or semantic list markup. Do not fake a list with typed hyphens or bullet characters alone.
Use real list structure—such as UL/OL with LI in HTML or the document editor’s list function—so assistive technology can recognize and navigate the list.
Key details
Important caveats
Boundary
Choosing bullets versus numbers is a separate content decision; this guide is about preserving list semantics in the underlying structure.
Further guidance
Accessibility
Structural list markup lets screen readers announce and navigate lists rather than perceiving only a run of decorated paragraphs.
Practical Application
Use the platform’s actual list structure rather than manually typing bullets or numbers: in HTML, use `ul` or `ol` with `li`; in document editors, use the built-in list feature so the list relationship is represented semantically.
Reader Check
If the visual bullets or numbers disappeared, would assistive technology still be able to identify the items as one list and, where relevant, distinguish ordered from unordered content?
Semantic Structure
Use semantic ordered or unordered list structures and mark each item as a list item.
Worked Example
For three eligibility requirements, create a semantic unordered list with three list items instead of three ordinary paragraphs that merely begin with a bullet character.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Lists — Home Office User-Centred Design Manual (opens in a new tab)UK Home Office · Semantic list markup/list functions for accessibility and correct ordered/unordered list structure