Term Lists
A term list pairs each term with a definition or explanation. Microsoft’s documentation style uses a bulleted structure for these lists, bolds the term when appropriate, and separates the term from its definition with a period.
Use a term list when each item is a term followed by its definition or explanation; keep the term/definition pattern consistent.
Key details
Important caveats
Numbering Boundary
Microsoft recommends bullets by default and numbering only when sequence or numbered reference matters.
Structure Boundary
Each item consists of a term followed by a definition or explanation.
Further guidance
Practical Application
Use a term list when each item pairs a term with its definition or explanation. Keep the term/definition pattern parallel; use bullets by default and numbering only when order or numbered reference matters.
Reader Check
Does every item begin with a clearly identifiable term followed by a comparable type of explanation, or has the list drifted into unrelated sentences?
Worked Example
Example: “Latency. The delay before a response begins.” and “Throughput. The amount processed in a period.” form a parallel term-and-definition list.
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