Bullet points
We use bullet points in two different ways.
As a list within the text
Use bullet points to make text easier to read. Make sure that:
- you always use a lead-in line
- there is always a space between the lead-in line and the bullet points
- the bullets make sense running on from the lead-in line
- each bullet is short (no more than one sentence)
- you use lower case at the start of the bullet point, unless it starts with a proper noun
- you do not use full stops within bullet points – where possible start another bullet point or use commas, dashes or semicolons to expand
- you do not put “or”, “and” after the bullet points
- there is no punctuation at the end of bullet points
- if you add links they appear within the text and not as the whole bullet point
- there is no full stop after the last bullet point
Your list should have at least three bullet points. If you have fewer, rewrite your content as individual sentences or paragraphs.
For bullet points following a heading
There is no lead-in line and the bullet points follow on directly from a heading or subheading. Each bullet point:
- starts with a capital letter
- finishes with a full stop
- is short (no more than one sentence)
Main points
- There were 240,854 marriages in 2013, a decrease of 8.6% compared with 2012 and the first decline since 2009.
- Civil ceremonies accounted for 72% of all marriages in 2013.