Bullet points for clean lists
Many places where you write, like social bios, captions, comments and plain-text emails, don't have a bullet list button. Pasting a bullet symbol at the start of each line gives you a tidy list anyway.
Choosing a bullet
- • and ◦ are the classic filled and hollow bullets used in most documents.
- ▪ and ▫ are small squares for a modern, neat look.
- ‣, ▸ and ► point forward and suit steps or instructions.
- ➤ and ☞ draw attention to a link or call to action.
- ✦ and ❖ are decorative and work well in aesthetic bios.
- – and — are the en dash and em dash, for a minimal, text-only list.
Example bio list
▸ illustrator
▸ cat person
▸ new prints every Friday
Use one bullet style per list. Mixing several shapes makes a list harder to scan.
Bullets in documents
In word processors, the built-in list tool is better than pasted bullets, because it lines up wrapped lines properly. Pasted bullets are best for places without that tool. On Windows, you can also type a bullet with Alt and 7 on the number pad in many apps.
For ticks and boxes, see check mark symbols. For pointers, try arrows.
Making lists that line up
Pasted bullets work best when every line starts the same way: one bullet, one space, then the text. If your app collapses spaces, try a no-break space from the invisible character page after the bullet. For nested lists, use a filled bullet • for main points and a hollow one ◦ for sub-points.
Bullets in social posts
Long captions are easier to read when they're broken into short lines with a bullet at the start. Pick a style that matches your profile: simple dots for a clean look, ✦ or ✧ for something softer, ▸ or ➤ when you're listing steps or links.