Using Bullet Lists

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   Cynthia Hooverposted 5 years ago

   I am working on article right now and realize that I have what feels like a huge bullet list. Though completely relevant to the topic (specific about a college and what courses are offered). I feel like that leaves a lot of maybe unnecessary scrolling between the bullets and the next bit of text. I could use a table perhaps. Is there a general consensus or rule for online writing and bullets? A magical number at which we should maybe use a table?
   
   I am only concerned because of the potential for people to bounce early on when they hit the list(s). There will be two bullet lists if I proceed on this course, one for two year degrees, and one for 4 year. The 4 year programs are not as exhausting as or long as two year. Or perhaps rather than list the specific degrees I could just list topics of study rather than each individual option. Obviously I tend to be long winded (as if this post was not already evident of that).

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      bravewarriorposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Cynthia, perhaps consider ditching the bullets and using subtitles for each point and explaining your point in the text. That may be an option to deter your readers from scrolling thru your article.

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2. 77

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 5 years ago

   I think I've got more than one article with TEN separate sections of bullet point lists.
   
   The majority of my articles over the past 4 years feature at least ONE section with bullet points, and most have multiple sections with bullet points.
   
   I use bullet points constantly.

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3. 75

   Cynthia Hooverposted 5 years ago

   I use them frequently too. I am wondering if at any point a bullet list can be too long. This particular list would be around 50 total bullets. My articles with lists tend to do well. I am just not sure if scrolling a long list would hinder reader retention or not.

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      samanthacubbisonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Cynthia, are you able to break up the bullets by category? If so, you can use H2/3s to make it look less like one long list. You can also post your article here and I can take a closer look at it!

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      1. 75

         Cynthia Hooverposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you! I am still working on it now. Currently below 500 words so not nearly ready to publish. I'm hung up on these bullets so I left it to walk away for a while worked on a few other articles. So that I could come back with fresh eyes (but alas the lists still look awkward to me). 
         
         I am going to try break them up with H2/3s as you suggested in other capsules for the same information and see if the flow is better. That way I still have the bullets and can preview both ways.   It just doesn't feel/look like it flows well with such a long list (especially early on within the article).

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            samanthacubbisonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Sounds good. Good luck! Feel free to post here when you're done.

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   Cynthia Hooverposted 5 years ago

   This is as good as I could get it (funny not funny-totally okay to laugh folks). The best I could manage to break up that large bullet list and pare it down to a few different sections. It visually looks a bit better. Yet, there is still a lengthy bullet lists. I still don't care for it, maybe even the entire article as a whole needs re-worked.
   
   
   https://hubpages.com/education/How-to-G … t-Virginia

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      samanthacubbisonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I think it looks fine. You have some paragraphs in there for variety and the bullets are useful.
      
      I assume that you had planned to on account of the APA, but "Physical Education and Teaching Courses" is not in H3. Also, the second and second to last photos aren't full-width, so I suggest removing them.
      
      Other than that, nice formatting and an overall informative read!

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         Cynthia Hooverposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Thank for the tips I removed the images and edited a little. Hopefully after all the stay at home restrictions are lifted I can take the 5 hour drive to visit campus take to pictures to add in later.

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            samanthacubbisonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Haha, that's a long drive just for a photo!

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               Cynthia Hooverposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               For sure it will be, but it is also a beautiful drive! The college is in a historic area so there is potential for taking other pictures to use in later articles too. I could not find any good public domain images for the college.

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