Lists in APA 7 Style: numbers, bullets, and letters

What lists do in APA Style

Lists separate related ideas so readers can follow their order or relationship more easily. APA Style allows lettered series within a sentence, numbered lists, and bulleted lists. The right choice depends on the form of the items and whether their order matters.

Before creating a list, make sure all items serve the same purpose. For example, do not present an action, a question, and a long explanation as though they were equivalent items.

Numbered lists

Use numbers when the items are complete sentences or paragraphs. Numbered lists are also useful for steps, research questions, separate conclusions, or a sequence in which order supports understanding.

Use Arabic numerals followed by periods. Capitalize the first word of each item and end each sentence with appropriate punctuation.

Numbered list example:

The source review followed these steps:

1. We defined the research question.
2. We selected databases related to the topic.
3. We recorded the criteria used to choose articles.
4. We compared the search results.

Do not enclose the number in parentheses, and do not use a numbered list for short phrases that are not complete sentences.

Bulleted lists

Use bullets to emphasize related items without suggesting rank, priority, or sequence. Bullets work well for characteristics, materials, conditions, or examples of equal importance.

Example with short phrases:

The reading log included:

• title of the work
• author's name
• main idea
• questions for discussion

Short phrases begin with a lowercase letter and may appear without end punctuation. Use the same approach throughout the list.

Longer phrases that continue the same sentence may instead be punctuated as though the bullets were not present. Separate those items with commas or semicolons and place the period after the final item. Do not mix this format with a list of unpunctuated short phrases.

Example with phrases that continue one sentence:

The team needed to

• review the consent forms,
• verify the participant codes, and
• store the files in a protected folder.

Example with complete sentences:

The activity produced three main observations:

• Students identified the text's purpose easily.
• Open-ended questions produced more detailed responses.
• The available time did not allow discussion of every example.

When each item is a complete sentence, begin it with a capital letter and end it with a period or other appropriate punctuation.

Lettered series within a sentence

Use lowercase letters in parentheses to distinguish complex items without separating them from the paragraph. This format is useful when the sentence should remain a single unit.

Lettered series example:

The evaluation considered three aspects: (a) clarity of the question, (b) the relationship between evidence and the conclusion, and (c) accuracy of the references.

If any item already contains commas, use semicolons between the items to prevent confusion.

In any series of three or more items, use a serial comma before the final item. This rule also applies when the series appears in a paragraph without letters.

How to keep items parallel

List items should begin with a similar grammatical structure. If the first starts with a verb, the other items should generally start with verbs as well.

Less clear:

• identifying sources
• organization of notes
• the draft should be reviewed

Clearer:

• identifying sources
• organizing notes
• reviewing the draft

This parallel structure helps readers understand that all three items are actions in the same process.

Indentation and automatic list tools

Create lists with your word processor's numbering or bullet function. It applies consistent indentation and keeps the sequence correct when you add or remove items.

Do not type numbers, spaces, or symbols manually to imitate a list. Manual formatting can lose its alignment, and the sequence can become incorrect when the document changes.

List checklist

• You chose numbers for complete sentences or items with a meaningful order.
• You used bullets when the items do not need a hierarchy.
• You reserved letters in parentheses for a series within a sentence.
• Every item has a similar structure and level of detail.
• Complete sentences begin with capitals and end with punctuation.
• Short phrases use capitalization and punctuation consistently.
• Longer phrases are punctuated as one sentence when appropriate.
• The list was created with the word processor's automatic list function.