Bullet points and lists
Lists should not normally be justified, as this stretches out information unevenly.
Writers can use the introductory text to indicate how readers should use the list. For example, 'candidates must have one of the following:', or 'candidates must have all of the following:'.
You must now choose one of the following options:
- You can accept the changed offer from your firm choice.
- You can decline the changed offer from your firm choice.
- You can wait to see if your insurance choice offer becomes unconditional before replying to the changed offer from your firm choice.
Universities can make one of the following decisions:
- a conditional offer
- an unconditional offer
- an unsuccessful decision
- a withdrawal
Bullet points as sentences
If the text in the bullet is a complete sentence, it should begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop. The preceding sentence should not use a colon as an introductory punctuation mark.
Most applicants haven't written a personal statement before, so we've got plenty of advice to help.
- First of all plan when you need to start researching and writing – download the personal statement timeline.
- Ask yourself questions like the ones below to decide what information to include.
- Have a look at our personal statement mind map for more ideas, or use our personal statement worksheet to write down answers to these questions and more.
Introductory sentence, plus bulleted list, can form a complete sentence
A sentence fragment or list, which form a complete sentence if read together with the introductory line, begin with a lowercase letter and should not have a full stop. There should be no full stop after the final bullet point in the list.
Good journalists usually have:
- the capacity to empathise
- an ability to think outside the box
- a love of detail
A capital letter should only be used for words that are proper nouns. For example:
Use our online tools to help you apply for higher education, such as:
- Apply
- Track
Numbered lists
Useful in step-by-step guides and formal documents such as terms and conditions.
Keep the numbering simple.
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Register to use Apply
- Have you applied before?
- European character and other languages
- Sign in to fill in the rest of your personal details
- Student finance
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Course choices
- Applying for medicine and dentistry
- Applying to the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge
- Applying for deferred entry
- Full education history
- Tips for adding AS and A levels
- International and EU students
- Mature students
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About UCAS
- 1.1. We are the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 02839815 whose registered office is at Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ ('UCAS', 'we', 'us').
- 1.2. You can contact us by telephone on 01242 222 444, by email to webenquiries@ucas.ac.uk or in writing to the above address.
- 1.3. Our role is to provide admissions services across a range of subject areas and study modes for education providers.