Q. I am editing a manuscript that will become a book. It is a type of instructional manual, but more informational than instructional. The writer is inconsistent with the use of bullets and numbers. Should a list be numbered only if the material is to be used as a guideline for a consecutive order of information? Should bullets be used simply as an outline of information in no particular order?
A. Yes, I think that’s a good rationale for distinguishing bulleted and numbered lists.