Whatever distracts the viewers the least is my guide. A period at the end of a list of bulletin items would severely distract me. I know that people vary in what distracts them, but as an editor (which I do as a hobby for people) I want consistency.
Edryce
Charles Wankel <
wankelc@optonline.net> wrote:Forwarded from the Online Learning e-News
http://www.vnulearning.com
issue of December 30, 2002.
Cybercollegially, Charles Wankel, St. John's University, New York
----------------
PUNCTUATE THIS!
What's the proper punctuation for items
in a bulleted PowerPoint list?
Does each item end with a period whether
or not it is a complete sentence?
If a statement such as, "Complete the following
items" introduces the list, then does each item
end with a comma?
Does the next-to-last item end with a comma plus
"and" and the last item with a period?
Here are responses to that reader query:
Steve Stamatopoulos (
Steven.Stamatopoulos@mbusa.com )
uses no punctuation at the end of each bulleted point
except for the last point, which gets a period.
"That lets us know that the list is completed,"
says Stamatopoulos, "and that our next mouse click
will move us to the next slide."
Stamatopoulos is a training and development specialist
with Mercedes-Benz USA in Hazleton, Pa. The automaker
is a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG.
Tom Ditzler (
TDitzler@jjkeller.com ), a sales-training specialist with
health and safety publisher J. J. Keller & Associates Inc. of Neenah,
Wis., has another take:
"Items in a bullet list should end with a period if
the items are independent clauses, dependent clauses
or very long phrases," says Ditzler.
And "use a period after a short phrase that grammatically completes the
introductory statement."
Here's an example:
Please bring the marketing details on
* New product launches.
* Green widgets.
Don't use a period "after short phrases when
the introductory statement is grammatically
complete," says Ditzler.
Here's an example:
Our green widgets are the best in the industry
and have the following features:
* Beautiful green color
* Great taste
* Low price
Avoid commas and semicolons at the end of bulleted
lists, Ditzler advises.
Complete sentences in bullets get periods, Ditzler adds:
Complete the following items:
* Prepare a detailed marketing analysis
on the green widgets.
* Make copies of the marketing plan for
the Executive Committee.
* Present your marketing plan at the year-end
Executive Conference.
Had enough? No? Here's more:
Lawrence Roberge (
lroberge@map.com ), who teaches
biology at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., says
it depends on the number of words in the item.
One or two words means no period. Here's an example:
The animals in this list include:
* Whales
* Kangaroos
* Dolphins
More than two words get a period. Here's an example:
The options for sterilization of a surface include:
* Ultraviolet light
* Use of chlorine gas.
* Applications of a 10% glutaldehyde solution.
PRECISE, CONCISE, CONSISTENT
Mark Betzold (
MarkBetzold@WellsFargo.COM ) thinks
it's consistency that matters.
"If one item in the list is a complete sentence,
it should end with a period and all other items
should also end with a period," says Betzold.
"If each list item is just one or two words, you
can do without final punctuation. I also normally
capitalize the first word of each list item."
And one or two words is better in PowerPoint,
Betzold suggests.
"If I can eliminate certain words or punctuation,
I will do that -- as long as the message remains
clear," Betzold says.
"So commas and 'and' in PowerPoint lists are superfluous.
Be precise, concise and consistent."
Betzold is training coordinator in corporate
trust services with Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota
N.A. in Minneapolis.
---------------------------------
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