How to add bullet points in Word
To start a bulleted list in Word, type * and a space at the beginning of a line, or click Home → Bullets. To type a single bullet point symbol • inside a sentence, hold Alt and type 0149 (or 7) on the numeric keypad.
Quick answer
List: type * + space, or Ctrl + Shift + L. Single symbol: Alt + 0149, or 2022 then Alt + X.
Step by step
Start a new line
Put the cursor at the beginning of an empty line.
Type an asterisk and a space
Word’s AutoFormat turns * followed by a space into a bulleted list. A hyphen and a space starts a dash list instead.
Write your items
Press Enter for each new bullet. Press Enter twice, or Backspace on an empty bullet, to end the list.
Indent sub-points
Press Tab to demote an item to the next level and Shift + Tab to bring it back.
A list bullet or a • character?
Word’s list bullets are formatting. They line up the text with a hanging indent, renumber and re-indent themselves, and export correctly to PDF and HTML lists. Use them for any real list.
The • character (U+2022) is better for inline separators such as “Home • Pricing • Contact”, for short lists inside a table cell, and for text you will paste into a plain-text field. Type it with Alt + 0149, the older Alt + 7, or 2022 then Alt + X. On a Mac, Option + 8 types •.
Change the bullet style
Click the small arrow beside the Bullets button and choose Define New Bullet → Symbol. Any character can be a bullet: ▪, ◦, ➤, ✓ or ★. Choose a font such as Segoe UI Symbol for the widest selection. Word remembers the new bullet in the Bullet Library for the rest of the document. Our bullet point symbols collection shows the options side by side.
The keyboard shortcut
Ctrl + Shift + L applies Word’s List Bullet style to the current paragraph. It uses the style’s bullet, which you can redefine by modifying the List Bullet style, a neat way to give a whole report the same custom bullet.
When bullets misbehave
If a list bullet turns into a clock or an odd letter on another computer, the list uses a Symbol or Wingdings glyph from a font that machine lacks. Redefine the bullet using a Unicode character from a common font. And if typing * no longer starts a list, re-enable “Automatic bulleted lists” under AutoCorrect Options → AutoFormat As You Type.
More detail: the bullet point • reference and bullet points in Excel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut for a bullet point in Word?
Ctrl + Shift + L starts a bulleted list. For a single • character, use Alt + 0149 or Alt + 7 on the numeric keypad.
How do I type a bullet point without a number pad?
Type 2022 and press Alt + X, or start a list with * followed by a space.
How do I get a bullet point on a Mac in Word?
Option + 8 types •. For a list, type * and a space or use the Bullets button.