Use lists to highlight steps or key points.

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Lists are often an effective way to present information in a logical and visually coherent way. Use a numbered list (1, 2, 3) to present the steps in a process or to list items that readers will need to refer to easily (for instance, see the sample e-mail message on p. 656). Use a bulleted list (marking each new item with a “bullet”—a dash, circle, or box) to highlight key points when the order of the items is not significant (for instance, see the sample memo on p. 653). Written instructions, such as recipes, are typically formatted using numbered lists, whereas a list of supplies, for example, is more often presented in the form of a bulleted list.