GUIDELINES FOR TABULATION

1. The items in the list must form a logical group. Avoid making a list of (a) bread, (b) eggs and (c) the prime minister.
2. Each item should contain only one idea.
3. All items in the list should be in the same form. Avoid beginning some items with a noun and others with a verb. Avoid varying the tenses of the verbs you use in a list.
4. Each item should work separately with the lead-in to form a complete sentence. Concluding material must fit in too, if the sentence continues after the last item on the list.
5. Put anything common to all items in the lead-in. The lead-in is the text before the bullets. The text after the bullets is the list.
6. The list should be indented to set it apart from the lead-in and any concluding material. Return to the left margin for any statement following the list.
7. Use bullets to identify each item in the list. Use numbers instead of bullets only when you are describing step-by-step procedures. Avoid using both numbers and bullets in a list.
8. If bullets are being used, all items in the list should begin with a lower case letter.
9. When items contain commas, or are lengthy, use semicolons at the end of each item; otherwise use commas or no punctuation. Put a period after the last item if it is the end of the sentence.
10. If the list consists of alternatives, put "or" after the second last item. If the list is inclusive, put "and" after the second last item.