RE: punctuating the end of bullet points

["Spreadbury, David" <david -dot- spreadbury -at- tellabs -dot- com>]

Not being an authority on the subject, I have always put a period at the
end of the bullet item if the item formed a complete sentence.

If it is just a bulleted list of things, then there would not be any
periods.
If the list contained complete thoughts, then, in most cases, I would
put a period on the thought (sentence).

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+david -dot- spreadbury=tellabs -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+david -dot- spreadbury=tellabs -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
] On Behalf Of T K
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 3:46 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com; techcomm -at- user -dot- itconsult -dot- co -dot- uk
Subject: punctuating the end of bullet points

Hi Technical Writers,
  
  I have a question in relation to punctuation at the end of bullet
points. It is my understanding that there are a few options for such
punctuation:
  
  1) no punctuation at all
  2) use a semi-colon
  3) use a period 
  
  and that any option is acceptable once it is used consistently - not
only in that bulleted list but throughout the entire document or
publication. 
  
  My question concerns the option when no punctuation is used. What
should one do if the content of the bullet point has more than one
sentence? Obviously with more than one sentence there will be a  period
at the end of any preceding sentences. It would then seem  incorrect to
not have a period at the end of the final sentence in the  bullet point.
  
  For example, if a styleguide dictates that there will be no
punctuation  at the end of bullet points what happens for bullet points
where there  are multiple sentences? One option would be to include a
period at the  end of ALL bullet points in the list if one (or more) of
the bullet  points contains more than one sentence. Doing this ensures
that THIS  bulleted list is punctuated consistently. However, if there
are OTHER  lists of bullet points in the same document that contain no
more than  one sentence (or term or whatever the bullet point consists
of) then  these bulleted lists do not require a period at the end in
order to  conform to the style guide. However there will be inconsistent
punctuation between different lists of bullet points in the document.
  
  Perhaps the simplest solution is to use a period at the end of all
bullet points? But there is an argument in favour of the aesthetic
appeal when no punctuation is included at the end of bulleted lists of
short terms or phrases. 
  
  Maybe it is acceptable to have no punctuation at the end of bullet
points containing brief content and periods at the end of bullet points
containing multiple sentences, within the one document?
  
  Am I analysing this too much or has anyone else encountered this
issue?
  
  Tom.
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