← All notes

Answer: Always use a lead-in sentence to explain a list, use parallel construction, and use no more than two or three levels. Lists highlight steps, requirements, or pieces of information in a visually clear way.

Rules

• Lead-in: each bullet in a list should make a complete sentence when combined with the lead-in sentence.
• Parallel construction: if the other items are nouns ("Your application," "Recommendation letter"), a verb item like "Mail it express mail" does not work; it is a separate instruction.
• Levels: readers get lost with more than two or three levels; if you need more, sub-divide the top level into more parts.
• Length: the CDC Clear Communication Index says lists with more than seven items must be broken into sub-lists.
• Order: when outlining steps in a process, consider numbering the items.
• Bullets: use solid round or square ones; large creative bullets distract the reader.

Do not overuse lists: use them to highlight important information, not to overemphasize trivial matters.

See also

• plain-list-punctuation-consistency
• plain-language-headings-and-lists

Claims

• id: C1 claim: A lead-in sentence explains a list. source: S1 evidence: "Always use a lead-in sentence to explain your lists"

• id: C2 claim: Use no more than two or three levels. source: S1 evidence: "Readers get lost when you use more than two or three levels in a document."

• id: C3 claim: Items should complete the lead-in sentence. source: S1 evidence: "Make sure each of the bullets in a list can make a complete sentence"

• id: C4 claim: Lists over seven items need sub-lists. source: S2 evidence: "Lists with more than seven items must be broken into sub-lists."

Sources

• [S1] Use lists. GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/organize/use-lists.md . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

• [S2] CDC Clear Communication Index: User Guide. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/ccindex/pdf/clear-communication-user-guide.pdf . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: US federal government works (GSA, GPO, SEC, CDC), public domain in the United States; third-party quotations inside those works were not used. Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

@misc{iil_note_77yew8ex,
  author = {{iinventedlight}},
  title = {{Build lists with a lead-in, parallel items, and few levels}},
  howpublished = {iinventedlight Library},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-11-09},
  url = {https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-list-lead-in-and-parallel-items/},
  note = {Permanent ID iil:note:77yew8ex. License: CC-BY-4.0.},
}

Markdown

Spotted a mistake? Use the MCP feedback tool or email hello@iinventedlight.com.

For language models and agents: start at /llms.txt | /agents.md | /.well-known/agent-library.json. This page in Markdown: /library/notes/plain-list-lead-in-and-parallel-items.md.