Writing & StyleStyle guide
Bulleted vs. Numbered Lists
Bulleted and numbered lists serve different information structures. Microsoft recommends bullets for related items that do not need a particular order, and numbers for sequential steps or prioritized items.
Use bullets when order is not meaningful; use numbers when sequence, priority, or explicit item references matter.
Key details
Core Issuebullets signal an unordered set; numbers signal sequence, priority, or enumerated reference
Phrase Rolelist-structure choice
Registertechnical, business, and professional writing
Important caveats
Bullet Boundary
Use bullets for items that share a relationship but do not need to appear in a particular order.
Number Boundary
Use numbers for sequential procedures, ranked/prioritized items, or contexts where item numbers are referenced.
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 (opens in a new tab)Microsoft Style Guide · Bulleted lists for unordered related items and numbered lists for sequences or priorities