Lists are everywhere. Shopping lists, the to-do list, and even kids create a list for Santa. My typical weekend list looks like this:
- go to the post office
- Linda
- cookies
- do the laundry
- Staples
- dog haircuts
- grade
It’s just a random list of stuff, known to me just by the words on the page. But if I handed this list to someone else (say my husband) they’d have to ask several clarifying questions to figure out what “cookies” or “Staples” means.
Lists, or bullets, in a document need to be clear and organized so the reader understands the author’s intent. When a reader has to ask clarifying questions to understand the purpose of your list, (like my weekend list) you’re on the way to frustrating or losing your reader.
Bring clarity and organization to your lists by deciding, is this a verb (action) list, or a noun (object) list. When you make a verb or a noun list, you are bringing your list of items into a parallel structure — each list item starts with a verb, or each list item starts with a noun.
To use my weekend list as an example, making it a verb list (“Things I Need to Do This Weekend”), it would look like this:
- Go to the Post Office
- Call Linda
- Buy cookies at Lunds
- Do the laundry
- Purchase notebooks at Staples
- Make appointment for doggie haircuts
- Grade Assignment #5
Each item starts with a verb in the same tense (in this case, present).
The same list could be a noun list, such as “Where Will I Be This Weekend?”. It would look like this:
- Post Office
- Grocery Store
- Home
- Staples
- Dog Groomer
- Coffee Shop
The list is neat and orderly, and answers the question posed by the lead in or title.
To summarize: When you make a list, decide if you are making a verb (action) list or a noun (object). Then make your list items begin with all verbs for the verb list, or all objects if it is a noun list.
Keeping your lists in line, or parallel, will make the purpose of your list clearer to your reader.
No related posts.