Writing & StyleStyle guide
Parallel Structure in Lists
Parallel list items use the same grammatical pattern for ideas of equal status—for example, all nouns or all verb-led phrases. Microsoft explicitly recommends consistent structure because it improves scanning and comprehension.
Use the same grammatical pattern across comparable list items; do not mix nouns, commands, and sentence fragments without a clear reason.
Key details
Core Issuekeeping list items grammatically parallel
Phrase Rolelist formatting and information structure
Registerprofessional and technical writing
Important caveats
Clarity Boundary
Parallel structure is a readability rule for equivalent items, not a ban on every mixed structure in complex documents.
Structure Boundary
Comparable items should use matching grammatical forms, such as all nouns or all verb-led phrases.
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