List Item Punctuation
List-item punctuation depends on the grammatical form of the items and the governing house style. Microsoft omits terminal punctuation from many fragments and short labels, but uses periods for complete sentences and some sentence-completing items.
Match punctuation to the list item’s grammar and your house style; complete sentences normally take periods, while short fragments often do not.
Key details
Important caveats
Fragment Boundary
Short fragments, labels, headings, and similar items often appear without terminal punctuation in Microsoft style.
Sentence Boundary
Complete-sentence list items normally take sentence-ending punctuation.
Further guidance
Practical Application
Match terminal punctuation to the grammatical form and governing style: complete sentences normally take end punctuation, while short parallel fragments often do not. Avoid mixing punctuated sentences and unpunctuated fragments without a reason.
Reader Check
Are all items the same grammatical type, and does the punctuation pattern match that type consistently?
Worked Example
Sentence list: “Review the draft.” / “Approve the changes.” Fragment list: “Draft review” / “Final approval” with no periods if the house style permits.
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