Glossary
What is a bullet point?
Bullet point: A bullet point is a short item in a list, marked by a symbol such as a dot, used to set out points of equal rank in short, parallel entries. On slides it is the standard way to list items.
A bullet point is one item in a list, marked by a symbol such as a dot, a dash or a square. Bullets set out points of equal rank in short, parallel entries, so a reader sees at a glance how many there are and where each one starts. They are the standard way to list items on a slide, and an easy form to overuse.
A bullet list does one job: it shows items that belong together and have no fixed order. If the order matters, use a numbered list. If each item has several attributes, use a table. If the point is a relationship, a flow or a trend, draw it.
Where it shows up on a slide
The slide below uses four bullets under a title that states the point. Each bullet carries one concrete fact, and the aside on the right holds the goal. Nobody has to read a paragraph.
The difference lies in what each bullet says:
Labels
- Cash
- Inventory
- Customer terms
- Bank
Statements
- Revenue up 31% in two years; operating cash flow flat
- Inventory now covers 118 days, against 75 for comparable toolmakers
- Customer terms drifted from 30 to 54 days during the expansion
- The bank has asked for a liquidity plan before renewing the credit line in Q2
How to write bullets
- One thought per bullet, short enough to take in while you speak.
- Keep them parallel: the same grammar, similar length and the same level of detail.
- Lead with the key word or number, so the eye catches it first.
- Limit the count. A common rule of thumb is no more than five or six bullets, and the presentation rules give more guidance. If you need more, group them or split the slide.
- Avoid nesting beyond two levels. A third level usually means the slide holds two slides' worth of content.
- Set the style once in the slide master, so symbols, indents and levels stay consistent across the deck.
- Pick another form when bullets fit badly: numbers for a sequence, a table for comparisons, a diagram for relationships.
Typical mistakes
- Bullets as a script. People read faster than you speak, so they tend to finish first and stop listening.
- Mixed grammar, such as one bullet that starts with a verb and the next with a noun.
- A single bullet. One item is not a list.
- Typed dots instead of real bullets. A "•" or a hyphen typed by hand has no hanging indent, so wrapped lines fall under the symbol instead of under the text.
- Labels instead of statements. "Inventory" names a topic, while "Inventory now covers 118 days" makes the point. The action title above the list should make a point too.
The AI editor behind this site exports lists as real PowerPoint bullets and as real Word lists.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many bullet points should a slide have?
There is no fixed number, and rules of thumb such as five or six bullets are starting points. The test is whether the audience can take in each bullet while you speak. If you need more, group the points or split the slide.
When should you not use bullet points?
When the order matters, use a numbered list. When items have several attributes, use a table. When the point is a relationship, a flow or a trend, draw a diagram or a chart.
What is the difference between bullets and a numbered list?
Bullets list items that belong together and have no fixed order. A numbered list shows a sequence or a count, so people can refer to item 3.
Should bullet points be full sentences?
They can be short statements or phrases, but keep them parallel in form. A statement with a fact says more than a label, so Inventory now covers 118 days is stronger than the single word Inventory.
Keep reading
Slide design basics
- GuideBest fonts for presentations
Which fonts work for presentations, how many to use, what size to set and how to stop fonts changing when a PowerPoint file opens on another computer.
- Free toolSlide contrast checker
Check the WCAG 2.2 contrast ratio of two slide colors. See AA and AAA results for text and charts, a live slide preview and the nearest colors that pass.
- GlossaryAspect ratio
The aspect ratio is the proportion of a slide's width to its height, such as 16:9 or 4:3. What each ratio means, its PowerPoint size and which one to choose.
- Free toolFont size calculator
Free font size calculator for presentations: enter the screen size and the farthest viewer's distance, get the smallest title, body and footnote size in points.
Where to go next
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