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A simple guide to creating a bullet list in your PowerPoint presentation
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Do you want to add bullet points to your PowerPoint so it's easier to read? Luckily, you can insert bullet points easily with just a few clicks of the mouse. This wikiHow article teaches you how to add a bullet point in a PowerPoint presentation using a Mac and Windows computer.

Things You Should Know

  • Select the text you want to bullet, then go to "Home > Bullet".
  • If you're trying to make a bullet list from scratch, and you're in a "Title" box, only the first line will be bulleted. Pressing "Enter" will create a new unbulleted line.
  • Use the "Text" box to create multiple bulleted lines.
  1. Double-click an existing PowerPoint presentation , or open PowerPoint and create a new presentation .
  2. Click a slide on the left side of the window to open the slide you want to place your bullet point on.
    • Alternatively, you can create a new slide.
    • If you don't see the slides of your PowerPoint on the left side of your screen, go to "View > Normal."
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  3. Click one of the text areas on the slide to place your cursor there.
    • For example, you might click the "Title" box or the "Click to add text" box.
    • If there's text that you want to add bullet points to, select that text instead.
  4. It's in the top-left section of the PowerPoint ribbon, which is the orange band atop the PowerPoint window.
    • If you're using a Mac, the Home tab is different than the Home menu item that's in the top-left side of your Mac's screen.
  5. Click one of the three-lined icons in the upper-left side of the "Paragraph" section in the Home toolbar. You will have at least two options: standard bullet points, and numbered bullet points.
  6. Type a word or phrase for your first bullet, then press Enter . This will create a bullet point for the first item and then create a new bullet point for your next item.
    • If you're in a "Text" box, a new bulleted line will be created when you press "Enter/Return" but not if you're in a "Title" box. [1]
    • Press the Backspace key while your cursor is next to a new bullet point to stop using bullet points.
    • *You can use different PowerPoint bullet formats to differentiate sub-points from main points. To do this, use the "Increase List Level" or press Tab on your keyboard.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I get original bullet points after a sub bullet point?
    Community Answer
    Press 'Enter' after your last sub bullet; it will add another sub bullet. Place your cursor at the start of this sub bullet and press Shift + Tab. This will move the bullet back to the original position.
  • Question
    How do I make a new bullet after sub bullets?
    Community Answer
    Type in all the sub bullet points as usual and then get the cursor to the start of the line and press 'tag.'
  • Question
    How do I insert an arrow sign within a sentence in PowerPoint?
    Community Answer
    You go onto home and click the picture with three small dots followed by a line.
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      Warnings

      • Using too many bullet points may detract from the visual appeal of your PowerPoint presentation.
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