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Subject:Re: Colons, lists, and periods From:Bonni Graham <Bonni_Graham_at_Enfin-SD -at- RELAY -dot- PROTEON -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 27 Jan 1994 10:08:00 EST
John Eldard asks:
"I would like to hear others style rules for the use of colons for
bulleted lists. When do I use a period at the end of the bulleted list?
When do I use periods for each bulleted entry? When don't I use periods
at all? I have read a few style guides about this, but they do not
address the use of the period. How do you do it?"
I use a period when the bulleted item is a complete sentence in and of itself
(which it rarely is after a colon, but once in a while it can be).
e.g.
You can use many different methods to type:
* Pressing the keys leaves an imprint on the page.
* Hitting the keys dents your fingers and the keys.
* Clicking the keys produces a nice beat that you can dance to.
I use a comma after bulleted items that complete a sentence, with an "and" or
"or" before the last one and a period at the end of that same last one.
e.g.
Count on me to:
* Mention all picky items whether anyone wants to hear them or not,
* Come up with some weird devil's advocate position on any given topic, and
* Thoroughly enjoy creating unrest and dissent.
I use no punctuation after bulleted items that form a list of individual
elements.
e.g.
I like to eat:
* Steaks
* Macaroni and Cheese
* Baked potatoes with butter and Guyere cheese
* Chili
I don't know if this is technically correct, but it's at least consistent, and
people always seem to know what I mean.
NOTE: This is how I do things in print -- on this list I just type them any old
which way. Y'all seem to get my drift ok, so I don't worry as much.
Bonni Graham |
Technical Writer |
Easel Corporation, ENFIN Technology Lab | Never tell people how to
Bonni_Graham_at_Enfin-SD -at- relay -dot- proteon -dot- com | do things. Tell them
President, San Diego STC | what to do and they will
| surprise you with their
NOTE: apparently my email address needs | ingenuity.
to be typed exactly as it appears here, |
punctuation and all, or the system gets | --George Patton
upset. |
