Bullet (typography)
Encyclopedia
In typography
, a bullet ( • ) is a typographical symbol or glyph
used to introduce item
s in a list. For example:
It is likely that the name originated from the resemblance of the traditional circular bullet symbol (•) to an actual bullet
.
The bullet symbol may take any of a variety of shapes, such as circular, square, diamond, arrow, etc., and typical word processors, such as Microsoft Word
and OpenOffice.org Writer
offer a wide selection of shapes and colours. Several regular symbols are conventionally used in ASCII-only text or another environments where bullet characters are not available, such as * (asterisk
), - (hyphen
), . (period
), and even o (lowercase O
). Of course, when writing by hand, bullets may be drawn in any style.
Example:
Where are bullets most often used?
if they are not complete sentences, although it is a common practice to terminate every item except the last one with a semicolon
, and terminate the last item with a full stop. It is correct to terminate a bullet point with a full stop if the text within that item consists of more than one sentence.
code point
U+2022. In HTML
, it may (when not inserted directly) be entered as •, •, or • Unicode also defines a triangular bullet (U+2023) and a "white bullet" ◦ (U+25E6), as well as other styles. However, semantics
normally requires that bulleted items be achieved with the appropriate use of the <li> tag inside an unordered list (<ul>). Such lists may be denoted with leading asterisks in Wikipedia markup as well as in many other wiki
s.
In the Windows-1252
and several other Windows code page
s, the standard circular bullet character is at 149 (decimal). On most Windows systems, it can be entered as the Alt code
Alt+0149 (press and hold while typing 0149 on the numeric keypad). Alt+7 generates a • (midpoint – sometimes called period-centered – which is often used as a bullet point).
On Mac OS X
, pressing Option+8 inserts a bullet, and pressing Shift+Option+9 inserts the similar interpunct
(·).
GTK+
applications on Linux
support the ISO 14755-conformant hex Unicode input system
; hold Control and Shift while tapping U, then type 2022 and press Enter to insert a • or hold Control and Shift while tapping U, then type B7 and press to insert a midpoint.
since early IBM PC
s with MDA–CGA–EGA graphic adapters, because built-in screen fonts contained such forms at code points 7–10. These were not true characters
though, because such points belong to C0 control codes range and, therefore, these glyphs required a special way to be placed on the screen; see code page 437
for discussion.
Prior to the widespread use of word processors, bullets were often denoted either by a lower-case “o
” fiiled-in with ink or by asterisk
s (*), and several word processors automatically convert asterisks to bullets if used at the start of line.This notation was inherited by wiki engines.
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
, a bullet ( • ) is a typographical symbol or glyph
Glyph
A glyph is an element of writing: an individual mark on a written medium that contributes to the meaning of what is written. A glyph is made up of one or more graphemes....
used to introduce item
Item
- Organizations :* ITeM, refers to the Uruguay-based Third World Institute , going by its Spanish acronym Instituto del Tercer Mundo* ITEM club, an economic forecasting group based in the United Kingdom- Newspapers :...
s in a list. For example:
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
It is likely that the name originated from the resemblance of the traditional circular bullet symbol (•) to an actual bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
.
The bullet symbol may take any of a variety of shapes, such as circular, square, diamond, arrow, etc., and typical word processors, such as Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
and OpenOffice.org Writer
OpenOffice.org Writer
OpenOffice.org Writer is the word processor component of the OpenOffice.org software package. Writer is a word processor similar to Microsoft Word and Corel's WordPerfect, with some of their features....
offer a wide selection of shapes and colours. Several regular symbols are conventionally used in ASCII-only text or another environments where bullet characters are not available, such as * (asterisk
Asterisk
An asterisk is a typographical symbol or glyph. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star. Computer scientists and mathematicians often pronounce it as star...
), - (hyphen
Hyphen
The hyphen is a punctuation mark used to join words and to separate syllables of a single word. The use of hyphens is called hyphenation. The hyphen should not be confused with dashes , which are longer and have different uses, or with the minus sign which is also longer...
), . (period
Full stop
A full stop is the punctuation mark commonly placed at the end of sentences. In American English, the term used for this punctuation is period. In the 21st century, it is often also called a dot by young people...
), and even o (lowercase O
O
O is the fifteenth letter and a vowel in the basic modern Latin alphabet.The letter was derived from the Semitic `Ayin , which represented a consonant, probably , the sound represented by the Arabic letter ع called `Ayn. This Semitic letter in its original form seems to have been inspired by a...
). Of course, when writing by hand, bullets may be drawn in any style.
Usage
Bullets are most often used in technical writing, reference works, notes and presentations.Example:
Where are bullets most often used?
- Technical Writing
- Reference Works
- Notes
- Presentations
Bullet points
Bulleted items – known as "bullet points" – may be short phrases, single sentences, or of paragraph length. Bulleted items are not usually terminated with a full stopFull stop
A full stop is the punctuation mark commonly placed at the end of sentences. In American English, the term used for this punctuation is period. In the 21st century, it is often also called a dot by young people...
if they are not complete sentences, although it is a common practice to terminate every item except the last one with a semicolon
Semicolon
The semicolon is a punctuation mark with several uses. The Italian printer Aldus Manutius the Elder established the practice of using the semicolon to separate words of opposed meaning and to indicate interdependent statements. "The first printed semicolon was the work of ... Aldus Manutius"...
, and terminate the last item with a full stop. It is correct to terminate a bullet point with a full stop if the text within that item consists of more than one sentence.
Computer encoding and keyboard entry
The standard circular bullet symbol (•) is at UnicodeUnicode
Unicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
code point
Code point
In character encoding terminology, a code point or code position is any of the numerical values that make up the code space . For example, ASCII comprises 128 code points in the range 0hex to 7Fhex, Extended ASCII comprises 256 code points in the range 0hex to FFhex, and Unicode comprises 1,114,112...
U+2022. In HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
, it may (when not inserted directly) be entered as •, •, or • Unicode also defines a triangular bullet (U+2023) and a "white bullet" ◦ (U+25E6), as well as other styles. However, semantics
Semantic Web
The Semantic Web is a collaborative movement led by the World Wide Web Consortium that promotes common formats for data on the World Wide Web. By encouraging the inclusion of semantic content in web pages, the Semantic Web aims at converting the current web of unstructured documents into a "web of...
normally requires that bulleted items be achieved with the appropriate use of the <li> tag inside an unordered list (<ul>). Such lists may be denoted with leading asterisks in Wikipedia markup as well as in many other wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
s.
In the Windows-1252
Windows-1252
Windows-1252 or CP-1252 is a character encoding of the Latin alphabet, used by default in the legacy components of Microsoft Windows in English and some other Western languages. It is one version within the group of Windows code pages...
and several other Windows code page
Windows code page
Windows code pages are sets of characters or code pages used in Microsoft Windows from the 1980s and 1990s...
s, the standard circular bullet character is at 149 (decimal). On most Windows systems, it can be entered as the Alt code
Alt codes
On personal computers running the Microsoft Windows or DOS operating systems, additional characters to those available in the current keyboard layout can be typed using an Alt code: pressing and holding the Alt key while entering a character code with the keyboard's numeric keypad...
Alt+0149 (press and hold while typing 0149 on the numeric keypad). Alt+7 generates a • (midpoint – sometimes called period-centered – which is often used as a bullet point).
On Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, pressing Option+8 inserts a bullet, and pressing Shift+Option+9 inserts the similar interpunct
Interpunct
An interpunct —also called an interpoint—is a small dot used for interword separation in ancient Latin script, which also appears in some modern languages as a stand-alone sign inside a word. It is present in Unicode as code point ....
(·).
GTK+
GTK+
GTK+ is a cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. It is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, allowing both free and proprietary software to use it. It is one of the most popular toolkits for the X Window System, along with Qt.The name GTK+ originates from GTK;...
applications on Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
support the ISO 14755-conformant hex Unicode input system
Unicode input
Unicode input is the insertion of a specific Unicode character on a computer. Unicode characters can be inserted in two ways: from the screen by means of an applet from which one can select the character, or by input of the Unicode character from the keyboard...
; hold Control and Shift while tapping U, then type 2022 and press Enter to insert a • or hold Control and Shift while tapping U, then type B7 and press to insert a midpoint.
In historical systems
Glyphs "•", "◦" and their reversed variants "◘", "◙" became available in text modeText mode
Text mode is a kind of computer display mode in which the content of the screen is internally represented in terms of characters rather than individual pixels. Typically, the screen consists of a uniform rectangular grid of character cells, each of which contains one of the characters of a...
since early IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
s with MDA–CGA–EGA graphic adapters, because built-in screen fonts contained such forms at code points 7–10. These were not true characters
Character (computing)
In computer and machine-based telecommunications terminology, a character is a unit of information that roughly corresponds to a grapheme, grapheme-like unit, or symbol, such as in an alphabet or syllabary in the written form of a natural language....
though, because such points belong to C0 control codes range and, therefore, these glyphs required a special way to be placed on the screen; see code page 437
Code page 437
IBM PC or MS-DOS code page 437 is the character set of the original IBM PC. It is also known as CP 437, OEM 437, PC-8, MS-DOS Latin US or sometimes misleadingly referred to as the OEM font, High ASCII or Extended ASCII....
for discussion.
Prior to the widespread use of word processors, bullets were often denoted either by a lower-case “o
O
O is the fifteenth letter and a vowel in the basic modern Latin alphabet.The letter was derived from the Semitic `Ayin , which represented a consonant, probably , the sound represented by the Arabic letter ع called `Ayn. This Semitic letter in its original form seems to have been inspired by a...
” fiiled-in with ink or by asterisk
Asterisk
An asterisk is a typographical symbol or glyph. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star. Computer scientists and mathematicians often pronounce it as star...
s (*), and several word processors automatically convert asterisks to bullets if used at the start of line.This notation was inherited by wiki engines.