Source
r/AskReddit•
macroman

Reddit, is it correct grammar to place a full stop (period) at the end of a bullet point?

  • Is this correct
  • Or is this correct.

Posted Jan 19, 2010, 9:28 PM UTC

815
insomniaclyric•

Are you writing the bullets in complete sentences? If so, then I would think proper punctuation would be the way to go. A list, on the other hand, probably doesn't need punctuation.

9
macromanOP•

Thanks, I'm finally updating my CV and want to get it right for future employers!

Generally I'm using one sentence per bullet (no punctuation) but I have a couple of two sentence bullets and ending with no punctuation just looks wrong.

1
insomniaclyric•

Please be consistent. If you end some bullets with periods, you should end all of them that way. If some are not complete sentences, make them complete sentences.

3
[deleted]•

if it is for a CV, definitely use periods.

1
[deleted]•

from my understanding, you are to remain consistent with bullet points. it's an all-or-none deal.

for example:

  • item 1
  • item 2
  • item 3

-or-

  • item 1.
  • item 2.
  • item 3.

if sentences are involved, use the latter.

8
lolbifrons•

Since they're both questions, I'd think you'd need question marks at the end of both.

4
silencia•

It depends, as has already been said by likeaturbine either punctuate all or none.

I'd query why you think that periods are the only option as it depends on the sentence structure and consequent list you are bullet pointing. In a list of short clauses the separator could be commas, in a list with complex clauses they could even be semi-colons, it all depends on the nature of the list and the sentence structure.

Grammar is often not black and white, stick with the house style or use your own judgement, it's up to you, just try to be consistent.

2
macromanOP•

Hmm, thats the logic I was using. I was using one sentence bullets with no periods, but riiiight at the end I had a double sentence bullet - and thats where I got confused!

1
silencia•

so your bullet list can, grammatically, be written like so:

  • first list point, relatively simple;
  • second list point, just the same;
  • final list point, an absolute doozy, with at least one, possibly more, sub-clauses.

Hope this helps :)

Edited for layout

1
pigferret•

Is there a correct way to summon the BritishEnglishPolice?

Anyhow, I'm sure they'll turn up soon enough.

1
relupa•

No full stop unless it is the last in the series.

1
macromanOP•

Really? I never knew that was the convention.

1
girl_repellant•

I was always taught that commas are correct to use (unless each bullet is a complete sentence). But since entering the working world, I've discovered a particular style with regard to bullet points: the semi colon, "and" at the end of the penultimate point, and a period after the final point. The style is as follows:

  • item 1;

  • item 2; and

  • item 3.

In some circumstances, you may use "or" instead of "and", but this is obviously context specific.

1
insomniaclyric•

This would be right if all of the bullets were predicated on some earlier phrase like, 'Please note the following,' but if they are just points under a heading then I don't think semi-colons are appropriate, since the bullets are sentences themselves, rather than clauses of a larger sentence.

1
insomniaclyric•

This would be right if all of the bullets were predicated on some earlier phrase like, 'Please note the following,' but if they are just points under a heading then I don't think semi-colons are appropriate, since the bullets are sentences themselves, rather than clauses of a larger sentence.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1