Lists
Order of lists
- Alphabetical order is preferred unless items need to be listed in a specific order for clarity or logical flow.
- When listing names, always order by surname, not given name.
Example (alphabetical order by surname):
- Kelly Karn
- Shane MacDonald
- Bryan Oliver
- Patricia Pickett
Example (chronological order for an event schedule):
- keynote address
- panel discussion
- networking break
- closing remarks
Numbered lists
Use numbered lists only for sequenced steps or instructions.
Example: To apply for the Ontario Student Assistance Program:
- Register online to create a password.
- Log in and submit your information.
- Check the website to see when your money will be available.
Bullet points
Do not use periods in bulleted lists when each item is three words or fewer.
Example: The Ridgebacks offer the following varsity sports:
- badminton
- basketball
- curling
- dance
- golf
- hockey
- rowing
- soccer
- women’s lacrosse
Use periods at the end of bulleted items that form complete sentences or stand alone as statements.
Example: Dr. Wendy Stanyon is an expert in:
- Enhancing mental health literacy.
- Facilitating mental health/illness awareness.
- Training and education on mental health issues in the community.
If a list contains a mix of short and longer items, do not use periods.
Example: Services include:
- Advising/referrals to other services on/off campus
- Indigenous Awareness Week
- Pathways assistance
- Recruitment and admissions assistance
- Running educational and cultural events on campus
Capitalize the first word of a bullet point only if it begins a full sentence or is a proper noun. Use lowercase for short item lists.
Example (lowercase):
- badminton
- hockey
- soccer
Example (capitalized):
- Enhance mental health literacy through education.
- Support students through on-campus resources.
Lists of hyperlinks
Do not use periods at the end of bullet points that are simply the names of linked documents, policies, or external resources.
Example: External weather-related resources:
- Durham Region Transit service alerts and detours
- Environment Canada weather forecasts for Ontario
- GO Transit service updates
If a bullet point is a question, retain the question mark, and if it is a full sentence that can stand alone, it should end with a period.
Example:
- What happens when there are operational changes due to an emergency?
- Review the university’s emergency closure procedures.
Reminder: Use meaningful, descriptive hyperlink text. Avoid vague phrases like click here or read more. Instead, ensure the link text describes the linked content.