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Bullets and Numbers
Bullets and Numbers
When formatting lists, use the software's on-board list formatting toolset. Many users already do this because it is more convenient, but some people bypass these in favor of "manually" entered lists, using dashes or asterisks.
These list tools are not simply for convenience of creators. They create code behind the scenes that screen readers see and read out to users. Meanwhile, many characters such as dashes are not, by default spelled out by screen readers when used as list points. This short video shows a demonstration of NVDA reading lists in Google Docs:
Bullet and number list tools are almost universal in text editing applications. Even Microsoft Outlook includes them for writing emails.
The video demonstrates several things (including a screen reader calling out headings, discussed previously!). Among them is the obvious: dashes are ignored, while bulleted or numbered lists, using Google docs' tools for such, are properly noted as such.
But looking at this example, does it matter? In this case, the screen reader did a good job of making the dashed list seem like a list anyway, perhaps as a sentence with commas rather than a list with dashes. It probably doesn't matter if the list works smoothly either way.
But if you have created a list, it might be for one of several good reasons, and you want the screen reader user to grasp every bit of your meaning, just as someone visually reading the document would. For example, if you are listing options students can take in completing an assignment, you want them to clearly understand where one option is separate from another, so they do not attempt more than they need to on that assignment.
As with formatting styles, properly formatted lists have additional advantages:
Some software, such as Microsoft Word, offer a broad array of options for bullets, numbers, letters, and other organizing points for a list.
If you need to add items early in a numbered list, the tool renumbers the list automatically.
Many list tools allow indented sub- or child items, just by using the Tab key or indent tools
Here's an example of an indented point (quickly created with the Tab key!)
Usually, switching between a numbered and bulleted list is simply a click, rather than re-typing in new item points.
Additional tip: use numbered lists specifically where the order of items is important. Use bulleted lists where you are not specifically recommending or requiring an order of items. These practices can help all students better understand implications of what you are presenting.
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