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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Use of bullet points - bulleting a single item?

I have a grammar query about the use of bullet points.

I am aware that, technically, bullet points should be used where there is a list, i.e. more than one item to be bulleted.

However, I work often with documents which are laid out with several subtitles and bullet-pointed lists underneath and often I have a situation where one or more subtitles only has one item underneath it. Technically, this one item should not be bullet-pointed.. however, from a style/appearance point of view, the document looks messy when bullet points are not applied consistently throughout.

An example:

Leeds Staff

  • Alison

  • Jonathan

  • Sarah
Manchester Staff

Lucy

London Staff

  • Helen

  • Kate

  • Nick
In this circumstance, is it acceptable to use a bullet point for a single item? In terms of document presentation, does the need for consistency in layout outweigh the strict interpretation of the grammar rule?
  

Top answer

I agree with your logic - it looks completely non-parallel to have Lucy without the bullet. An important part of knowing the rules of style is knowing when to break them. However, are bullets strictly necessary under each heading?

— BarbaraPA

  • I agree with your logic - it looks completely non-parallel to have Lucy without the bullet.
  • An important part of knowing the rules of style is knowing when to break them.
  • However, are bullets strictly necessary under each heading?
  • What about this?
  • Leed Staff: Alison, Jonathan, Sarah Manchester Staff: Lucy Lond Staff: Helen, Kate, Nick
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8 Answers
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I agree with your logic - it looks completely non-parallel to have Lucy without the bullet. An important part of knowing the rules of style is knowing when to break them.

However, are bullets strictly necessary under each heading? What about this?

  • Leed Staff: Alison, Jonathan, Sarah

  • Manchester Staff: Lucy

  • Lond Staff: Helen, Kate, Nick
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Thanks for your response - glad to see that you agree with me! lol

I rather feel the management here are responding in a knee-jerk fashion based solely on the advice of one person who has effectively said "grammar rules are sacrosant and can under no circumstances be broken; you cannot bullet point a single item"!

I like your suggestion but my example was probably not the
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Boy, I hope you mean inventory turns and not people turnover - otherwise an increase is hardly an achievement!

You may want to point out that bullets, etc., are refelctions of STYLE, not GRAMMAR. And style has a hierarchy. Style rule (which are not rules, really, but guidelines) need to be adjusted to make sure the higher-order objectives are met. Making it the most readable is at the top
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What I see most often is a sub-bullet that explains the parent bullet. They I usually suggest a dash instead of a sub bullet because an explanation is not a list.
In the earlier example, this is what I would do:

Responsibilities
  • Product sales
  • Managing a team of 18 sales people
  • Attending meetings on sales strategy
Achievemen
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I'd list everyone as e.g. London Staff: Helen, Kate, and Nick, that way Lucy's name is a non-issue
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If I have a single point, I indent it to make the bullets but do not give it a bullet point because bullet points are, strictly speaking, for lists.

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While the first answer became impractical because of the example given, they are correct, you must know when to break the rules. It is practical for your use to keep the bullet even though you do not technically have a list. I'm certain no one will notice besides you but if you leave out the bullet everyone will notice and probably complain.

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Whilst it is true that some answers are years after the question was posed, as a new user of the site I found the discussion of the issue useful. I was considering if using a single bullet point to subtly highlight a paragraph in a standard letter we send out to dozens of people a week would be a reasonable method.

(My conclusion is that, whilst not usual unless there is a list, it is a

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