Lists are everywhere in modern life, from gift registries and food orders to project plans and heartfelt letters to Santa. A well-written list can be a gift in itself, helping your reader—whether it’s Santa or your boss—skim and understand your message with ease.
But here’s the catch: proper punctuation and formatting are key to making your list sparkle.
Whether you’re preparing a festive wish list or tackling a professional report, here’s how to get it right.
Why use bullet points?
Lists break down complicated information into bite-sized chunks, making it easier to read. They’re perfect for:
Long texts like letters to Santa
Academic texs
Business materials like brochures, emails, and presentations
Digital tools like project boards, social media captions, and blogs
But what’s the right way to punctuate your list? Let’s dive in.
How to Punctuate Lists
1. A simple list of short items
For short, single-item lists, you can choose between capitalisation and punctuation styles. Just stay consistent.
Example:
All I want for Christmas is:
A pony
A puppy
World peace
OR
For Christmas this year, I would like:
a pony
a puppy, and
world peace.
2. Lists of complete sentences
When each point is a full sentence, treat them like you would in a paragraph.
Example:
My Christmas list is simple this year:
I’d like a few more hours in each day.
I need a new keyboard because my old one has worn out.
I’d give anything for everyone to be happy on Christmas day.
3. A List that’s a continuous sentence
Lists within a sentence are common and often end with semicolons—except for the final point, which uses a full stop.
Example:
Santa, I’d be grateful if you could:
give my sister the diamond ring she dreams of;
deliver the Ferrari my brother always wanted;
take away my parents’ aches and pains; and
bring peace to all mankind.
Common pitfalls
Avoid these common list mistakes:
Mixing sentence fragments with full sentences in the same list.
Forgetting parallel structure. Start each bullet the same way—either all nouns or all verbs, for instance.
Misplacing punctuation.
For example:
Incorrect:
a pony
A puppy, and
world Peace.
Correct:
A pony
A puppy
World peace
Modern tips for digital lists
In today’s world, lists are as likely to appear on a blog post or Trello board as in a letter to Santa. Formatting and clarity are just as important digitally:
Use spacing, bold text, or emojis to highlight key points.
Keep lists concise and skimmable—perfect for busy readers and elves alike.
Proofread before you send!
Santa checks his list twice, and you should, too. Typos or misplaced punctuation can change the meaning entirely. After all, no one wants to wake up to "new socks" instead of a "new sax". 🎷
Your turn!
Now it’s time to spread some grammatically correct holiday cheer! Write your own perfectly punctuated wish list and share it with your friends, Santa, or in the comments below. Let’s make this season both merry and meaningful!
🎄✨ Happy listing, and may all your wishes come true! ✨🎄
If you'd like more help bringing your writing to life and getting it in perfect shape before publication, whether it be a basic proofread or full edit, get in touch to find out how we can work together.
Photo by Mike Arney on Unsplash
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