How To Add Bullet Points in Google Docs [Every Possible Method]

Google tools offer a wide range of useful features, and among them are lists. You can use them to effectively craft outlines, notes, and checklists on Google Sheets, allowing you to present your data and ideas with clarity. While there are various lists you can use, by far the most widely used one is the classic bulleted list.

To add bullet points in Google Docs, all you need to do is click on the “Bulleted List” icon on the toolbar.

If you’re wondering if there are other ways to do that, you’re right. So, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to add bullet points in Google Docs. We’ll also tackle a few helpful tips, such as how to make sub-bullets to Google Docs, how to format bullet points, and more.

How To Add Bullet Points in Google Docs: Starting a New List

Like adding bullet points in Google Sheets, there are plenty of ways to create a bulleted list in Google Docs, which we’ll discuss below:

How To Add Bullet Points in Google Docs from the Toolbar

As we mentioned above, the most straightforward way to insert bullet points in Google Docs is by pressing the “Bulleted List” symbol on the toolbar. Simply follow the steps outlined below:

1. Open your Google Docs document and position your cursor where you want to add a list.
2. Click “Bulleted List” on the toolbar. You can hover your cursor over the icons to help you look for it.

3. Add text to the bullet point. Then, press the “Enter” key on your keyboard to add the next point.

4. When you want to end your bulleted list, place your cursor at the end of the last list item. Then, tap “Enter” on your keyboard two times.

How To Do a Bullet Point in Google Docs Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Want a faster way to add bullet points in Google Docs? Use your keyboard. Here’s how:

1. Open your Google Docs document on a computer.
2. Click on where you want to add a bulleted list on the page.
3. Hold down the “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “8” buttons on your keyboard if you’re a Windows user. For Mac, press “Command” + “Shift” + “8.”

How To Insert Bullet Points in Google Docs Using the “Format” Function

You can also use the Google Docs’ “Format” feature. This is where you can add shapes in Google Docs.

To insert bullet points in Google Docs using this function, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Click on the area where you want to add a bulleted list.
3. From the toolbar below your document’s title, click on “Format”.

4. From the dropdown menu, click on “Bullets and Numbering.” This should be the 6th option from the top.
5. Drag your mouse to the “Bulleted List Menu.” This will open a list of point icons to choose from. Select your preferred style to apply.

How To Add Bullet Points in Google Docs by Typing Symbols

Another way to add bullet points in Google Docs — one that won’t interrupt your writing flow — is by typing the asterisk symbol. Here’s how to do that:

1. Click on the page, placing your cursor on the area where you want to create a list.
2. Type an asterisk (“*”) symbol. You can do this by pressing the “Shift” + “8” keys on your keyboard.
3. Press the spacebar on your keyboard. This will turn the asterisk into a bullet point (“•”), and indent it. This signifies the start of a bulleted list.

4. Write the first item on your list.
5. Press “Enter” to add the next item to your list.

How To Add Bullet Points in Google Docs: Existing Text

If you’ve written a list without bullet points, there’s no need to retype it. You can easily convert it into a bulleted list with a few clicks. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Highlight the list you want to add bullet points to.

2. Click on “Bulleted List” on the toolbar. This will automatically add bullet points to items in your list.

3. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “8” keys on your keyboard if you use a Windows computer or “Command” + “Shift” + “8” on Mac. This will apply bullet points to the selected text.

What Should I Do If It Turns into One Big Bullet Point?

If the selected text falls under one bullet point (as shown below), don’t worry. Here’s what you should do:

1. Position your cursor at the end of the first point.

2. Press the “Delete” or “Del” key on your keyboard to bring up the next item on your list.

3. Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard. This should bring the text back down, now with a bullet point.

4. Do the same for the rest of the items on your list until they all have bullet points.

How Do I Delete Unwanted Bullet Points?

When adding bullet points to existing text, there may be unwanted bullets as a result of spaces between the items in your list. To delete these points, all you need to do is apply these steps:

1. Position your cursor after the unwanted bullet point.

2. Press the “Backspace” or “Back” key on your keyboard three times. This will delete the point and move up the other items in your list.

3. Alternatively, you can click on the “Bulleted List” icon on the toolbar to remove a bullet point. You can also use the shortcut “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “8” if you’re a Windows user (“Command” + “Shift” + “8” for Mac).

4. Repeat these steps until all of the unwanted bullets have been deleted.

How To Make Sub-Bullet Points in Google Docs

So, you’ve already created a list with bullet points. Now you want to add sub-bullet points or convert some of them into sub-bullets. This allows you to create lists within a list, structuring information in a more organized manner.

Whether you want to convert bullets into sub-bullets or create completely new ones, we’ve got you covered. Below are a few different ways to add sub-bullet points in Google Docs.

Adding New Sub-Bullet Points in Google Docs

Let’s say you’ve written your main points and are ready to add the sub-points. Doing this in Google Docs is fairly straightforward and can be accomplished with a couple of steps:

1. Move your cursor to the end of the bullet point immediately before the sub-bullet point you want to add.

2. Press “Enter” on your keyboard to add a bullet point.

3. Press the “Tab” key on your keyboard. This will immediately move the new bullet point to the right, transforming it into a sub-bullet point. Its icon will also change.

4. Write the text for that sub-bullet point.
5. To add another sub-bullet point after that sub-bullet point, press “Enter” once.

Converting Existing Bullet Points into Sub-Bullet Points

In the event that certain items were listed as main points, you can easily change them into sub-bullet points. Simply follow the steps below:

1. Move your cursor to the start of the point that you want to turn into a sub-bullet point.

2. Press “Tab” on your keyboard. This will move the point to the right, turning it into a sub-bullet point. You’ll notice that its icon will also change.

3. As an alternative to the “Tab” button, you can use the indentation tool or “Increase Indent” on your toolbar. If you can’t locate it, you may have to click on the “More” icon. You could also use the shortcut “Ctrl” + “J” on Windows or “Command” + “J” on Mac.

4. Do this for the rest of the points you want to turn into sub-bullet points.

Converting Multiple Bullet Points into Sub-Bullet Points

Want to turn multiple bullet points into sub-bullet points all at once? Here’s what you need to do:

1. With your mouse, highlight the items in your list that you want to turn into sub-bullet points.

2. Press “Tab” on your keyboard or click the “Increase Indent” button on your toolbar.

3. To turn a sub-bullet back into a bullet point, click “Decrease Indent”, which can be found beside “Increase Indent”.

Customizing Bullet Points in Google Docs

When you add a bulleted list to Google Docs, it will take a cue from the formatting style you used while you were writing. However, if you want to change how it looks, you can easily do that.

Here are a few ways to tweak the appearance of your bullet points and bulleted lists in Google Docs:

Changing Spacing in Bulleted Lists

Depending on the line spacing you used while writing, your bullet points may be too close or too far apart. Here’s a quick fix for that:

1. Highlight your bulleted list.
2. Click on “Format” on the toolbar, and then “Line & Paragraph Spacing” from the dropdown options.
3. Select a line spacing such as “Single”, “1.15”, “1.5”, or “Double”. You could also set your own custom spacing.

You’re free to choose whichever line spacing you want. But if you want your list to be easy on the eyes, you may want to click on the “Add Space Before List Item” option. This way, your points won’t look too crowded, especially when some of them span more than one line.

Replacing Bullet Point Styles or Icons

When you create a list in Google Docs, the points will be bullets (“•”) by default. But if you prefer other styles, you’ve got plenty of point icons to choose from. Here’s how to get different bullet points in Google Docs:

1. Highlight your bulleted list.

2. On the toolbar, select the arrow beside the “Bulleted List” symbol. This is the “Bulleted List Menu”.

3. You’ll see different point styles, such as stars, squares, and solid and hollow circles.

4. Simply click on the one you like, and your bullet points’ icons will immediately be changed.

Changing Bullet Point Colors

When you add bullet points in Google Docs, the icons will be black by default. However, you may want to consider adding color. This makes your work more appealing, readable, and visually impactful.

To change bullet point colors in Google Docs, follow these steps:

1. Click on any bullet point to change the color of all bullet points in a list. This will highlight all of the point icons.

2. Or, if you want to change the color of only one bullet point, double-click it until it’s the only one highlighted.

3. From the toolbar, select “Text Color”.

4. Choose a color and click to apply.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to add bullet points in Google Docs will enable you to improve the clarity and impact of your documents. Take the time to study the methods outlined above and incorporate the ones that fit your preferences.

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