Objective 2.1 Insert and format text

  • 2.1.1 Insert text on a slide
  • 2.1.2 Format text on a slide
  • 2.1.3 Create WordArt
  • 2.1.4 Format text as bulleted or numbered lists
  • 2.1.5 Format text in columns
  • 2.1.6 Link to internal and external locations and files

2.1 Contents

2.1.4 Format text as bulleted or numbered lists

Bulleted lists form the foundation of most presentations. You can enter up to nine levels of bullets in a content placeholder.

  • By default, the bulleted list items you enter are all first level, but you can easily demote (increase list leverl) and promote (decrease list leverl) list item levels, both on the slide and in Outline view.

If you have entered regular text paragraphs in a placeholder or an independent text box, you can convert the text to a bulleted list or a numbered list. You can also convert a bulleted list or numbered list to regular text paragraphs.

The appearance of the bullet characters for each list level is determined by the formatting prescribed on the slide master. However, you can customize a bulleted list by using basic formatting techniques. You can also change the size, color, and symbol of the bullets. For a numbered list, you can change the number scheme and the size and color of the numbers.

Custom bullets can accentuate slide content

For both types of lists, you can specify the indenting of each level. If you want to adjust the indenting of multiple levels, it is best to start with the lowest level and work your way up, using equal increments. Otherwise you might end up with a list that looks uneven and unprofessional.

See Also: For information about formatting bulleted list items as SmartArt diagrams, see “Objective 3.3: Insert and format SmartArt graphics.”

To convert selected text to a bulleted list

  • On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the Bullets button.

To change the bullets in a selected bulleted list

  • On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the Bullets arrow, and then click the bullet style you want.
Or
  1. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the Bullets arrow, and then click Bullets and Numbering.
  2. On the Bulleted tab of the Bullets and Numbering dialog box, change the size and color of the existing bullet.
  3. To change the bullet symbol, click Customize, choose a font and symbol in the Symbol dialog box, and then click OK.
  4. To use a picture as a bullet, click Picture, and then in the Insert Picture dialog box, locate and double-click the picture file you want.
  5. Click OK to close the dialog box and apply the change.
Select from hundreds of bullet symbols and specify the size and color

To convert selected text to a numbered list

  • On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the Numbering button.

To change the numbers in a selected numbered list

  • On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the Numbering arrow, and then click the standard numbering style you want.

Or
  1. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the Numbering arrow, and then click Bullets and Numbering.
  2. On the Numbered tab of the Bullets and Numbering dialog box, change the size and color of the number.
  3. If you’re continuing a list from another slide, enter or select the starting number in the Start at box.
  4. Click OK to close the dialog box and apply the numbering change.
PowerPoint numbered lists must use one of the seven built-in styles

To demote a list item

  • Click in or select the list item. Then on the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the Increase List Level button.
  • Click to the left of the text of the bullet point, and then press the Tab key.

To promote a list item

  • Click in or select the list item. Then on the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the Decrease List Level button.
  • Click to the left of the text of the bullet point, and then press Shift+Tab.

To adjust the hanging indent of a list 

  1. Select the list items you want to change.
  2. On the ruler, drag the First Line Indent and Hanging Indent markers to the left or right.

Tip: To display the ruler, select the Ruler check box in the Show group on the View tab. 

Or
  1. Select the list items you want to change.
  2. Open the Paragraph dialog box.
  3. In the Indentation section, with Hanging selected in the Special list, enter or select the indent distance you want in the By box.
  4. In the Paragraph dialog box, click OK.
Before Text and Hanging indents for first-level list items match

To convert a bulleted or numbered list to regular paragraphs

  1. Select the list items.
  2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the active Bullets or Numbering button.