Writing & StyleStyle guide
List Item Capitalization
List-item capitalization is a style decision that should be consistent within a list. Microsoft’s house style normally starts each item with a capital letter unless a specific reason calls for lowercase.
Keep list-item capitalization consistent. Microsoft normally begins each item with a capital letter, but other house styles may differ.
Key details
Core Issuewhether list items should begin with uppercase or lowercase letters
Phrase Rolelist formatting and information structure
Registerprofessional and technical writing
Important caveats
Consistency Boundary
Items in the same list should use a consistent capitalization pattern.
House Style Boundary
Microsoft generally starts list items with capitals; this is house-style guidance, not a universal grammar law.
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