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Lists

The What

On the face of them, lists are fairly straightforward. They are strings of vertically aligned items that provide clear visual grouping and reduce cognitive load by making each item easier to parse. However, not all lists are created equal. Properly formatted lists both group objects in ways that are visually clear and communicate groupings to screen readers.

Applying the Concept

On this page, there is an unordered list within the Level 2: Refining Your Approach section. One clue that this may be a properly formatted list is that it is indented and has an icon (rather than a typed symbol) before each list item. Because it was created using list formatting, it is visually distinct from the text around it, and each item is also visually distinct.

The How

Level 1: Making a Start

When you find yourself wanting to create a list, use list formatting to create a true list rather than merely putting a symbol before each item. Use unordered (bulleted) lists when the order of items doesn’t matter. Use ordered (numbered) lists when the order of items is necessary for understanding the content. For example, if you’re creating a list of book recommendations, use an unordered list. If you’re sharing a recipe, use an ordered list.

Only use a list when there is more than one item in the list. And don’t forget to remove any empty list items before sharing!

Use the links below to learn how to create lists across common software used at Mac.

Level 2: Refining Your Approach

Ready for one more consideration?

If you notice yourself creating strings of information in prose form, consider using a list instead, to increase legibility.

For example, if we want to communicate that lists can help improve experiences for readers with dyslexia, ADHD, screen readers, text-to-speech software, or emotional dysregulation, we might write that lists can help improve experiences for readers with:

  • dyslexia
  • ADHD
  • screen readers
  • text-to-speech software
  • emotional dysregulation

The grouped items are easier to parse and find visually on the page. This reformatting is especially helpful when list items contain long phrases that create extra-long sentences. Additionally, by using proper list formatting, we’ve ensured that someone using a screen reader can easily find the list, too.

Bonus content: Want to style your unordered list, so there’s a different symbol next to each list item? Check out the following videos.