Use Bullet Points Correctly Worksheet

In this worksheet, you will learn the important skill of being able to use bullet points correctly.

Top tips

⚬ Bullet points are used to break up information and make it easy to read

⚬ Bullet points are used when we want to turn a large amount of information into a list

⚬ Bullet points are useful as they save us from writing out long sentences

⚬ Bullet points certainly make information more appealing and easier to tackle

⚬ A colon ':' is a common way to introduce a bulleted list.

Example 1:

All about the T-Rex.

T-Rex stands for Tyrannosaurus Rex; a prehistoric predator. T-Rex means 'king of the dinosaurs'. Did you know, the T-Rex was not the biggest dinosaur but it was actually one of the last to die out? This dinosaur had such short front arms that they weren't very useful but its head was so big that it could swallow a human in one bite! T-Rex were deadly, ferocious hunters!

If we look carefully at this paragraph, we can convert it into a list of key information using bullet points and notes rather than full sentences.

The T-Rex:

⚬ T-Rex full name is Tyrannosaurus Rex.

⚬ T-Rex was called 'King of the dinosaurs'.

⚬ T-Rex were one of the last dinosaurs to become extinct.

⚬ T-Rex's short arms were quite useless.

⚬ T-Rex's big head made it a deadly predator with a fierce bite.

Example 2:

You can also use bullet points to organise a short list.

⚬ Any good classroom should have:

⚬ Stationery for each pupil

⚬ A class pet

⚬ A reading area

⚬ Comfortable chairs.

Notice how the full stop comes at the end of the final item.

Look carefully at the list below and choose whether it is or is not punctuated with bullet points correctly.

To bake the cake you will need:

⚬ Flour

⚬ Butter

⚬ Sugar

⚬ Egg

⚬ Baking powder.

Correct

Incorrect

Look carefully at the list below and choose whether it is or is not punctuated with bullet points correctly.

Holiday packing list:

⚬ Swimming costume

⚬ Goggles, towel, sunglasses, suncream

⚬ Bucket

⚬ Spade

⚬ Books.

Correct

Incorrect

Read the sentence below and choose the correct option to complete it.

Visitors to the Science museum may see...

Option One:

⚬ Dinosaurs, artefacts, memorabilia, old records.

Option Two:

⚬ Dinosaurs

⚬ Artefacts

⚬ Memorabilia, old records

Option Three:

⚬ Dinosaurs

⚬ Artefacts

⚬ Memorabilia

⚬ Old records.

Read the sentence below and choose the correct option to complete it.

For the school trip you will need:

Option One:

⚬ Waterproof clothing.

⚬ Swimwear

⚬ Sleeping bag

⚬ Torch.

Option Two:

⚬ Waterproof clothing, swimwear, sleeping bag, torch.

Option Three:

⚬ Waterproof clothing, swimwear

⚬ Sleeping bag, torch.

Read the sentence below and choose the correct option to complete it.

To make the pizza you will need:

Option 1:

⚬ Flour, yeast

⚬ Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella.

Option 2:

⚬ Flour

⚬ Yeast

⚬ Cherry tomatoes

⚬ Mozzarella.

Option 3:

⚬ Flour, yeast, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella.

Can you choose which type of text we would use bullet points for?

Poem

Spider diagram

Non-chronological reports

Adventure story

Are you more likely to use bullet points in a fiction or non-fiction piece of writing?

Fiction

Non-fiction

When using bullet points to punctuate a list, the list should begin with what form of punctuation?

A comma

A dash

A colon

A semi-colon

Read the sentence below carefully and then choose the words which would go into a bulleted list.

Today, I need to go to the shops in town to buy: milk, bread, butter and cheese.

In town to buy: milk, bread, butter and cheese

Milk, bread, butter and cheese

Today, I need to go to the shops in town to buy: milk, bread, butter and cheese.

Milk, bread, butter, cheese.

Read the sentence below carefully and then choose the words which would go into a bulleted list.

When packing my suitcase, I will include: suncream, beach ball, bucket, spade and shorts.

Suncream, beach ball, bucket, spade, shorts.

Beach ball, bucket.

Suncream, beach ball, shorts.

Suncream, beach ball, bucket, spade and shorts.

ANSWERS

Question 1

Look carefully at the list below and choose whether it is or is not punctuated with bullet points correctly.

To bake the cake you will need:

⚬ Flour

⚬ Butter

⚬ Sugar

⚬ Egg

⚬ Baking powder.

CORRECT ANSWER

Correct

EDDIE SAYS

This short bulleted list of ingredients is punctuated correctly. Each item in the list has a bullet point and there is a full stop after baking powder so we know the list has ended.

ANSWERS

Question 2

Look carefully at the list below and choose whether it is or is not punctuated with bullet points correctly.

Holiday packing list:

⚬ Swimming costume

⚬ Goggles, towel, sunglasses, suncream

⚬ Bucket

⚬ Spade

⚬ Books.

CORRECT ANSWER

Incorrect

EDDIE SAYS

This short list of ingredients is not punctuated correctly with bullet points. This is because the second bullet point has four items after it rather than one. Each of those four items should have an individual bullet point of their own. Well done if you spotted this!

ANSWERS

Question 3

Read the sentence below and choose the correct option to complete it.

Visitors to the Science museum may see...

Option One:

⚬ Dinosaurs, artefacts, memorabilia, old records.

Option Two:

⚬ Dinosaurs

⚬ Artefacts

⚬ Memorabilia, old records

Option Three:

⚬ Dinosaurs

⚬ Artefacts

⚬ Memorabilia

⚬ Old records.

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

Option three shows the correctly punctuated bullet points. This is because each item in the list has a bullet point and there is a full stop at the end of the final item to indicate that the list has finished.

ANSWERS

Question 4

Read the sentence below and choose the correct option to complete it.

For the school trip you will need:

Option One:

⚬ Waterproof clothing.

⚬ Swimwear

⚬ Sleeping bag

⚬ Torch.

Option Two:

⚬ Waterproof clothing, swimwear, sleeping bag, torch.

Option Three:

⚬ Waterproof clothing, swimwear

⚬ Sleeping bag, torch.

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

This time, option one shows the correctly punctuated bullet points. This is because each item in the list has a bullet point and there is a full stop at the end of the final item to indicate that the list has finished.

ANSWERS

Question 5

Read the sentence below and choose the correct option to complete it.

To make the pizza you will need:

Option 1:

⚬ Flour, yeast

⚬ Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella.

Option 2:

⚬ Flour

⚬ Yeast

⚬ Cherry tomatoes

⚬ Mozzarella.

Option 3:

⚬ Flour, yeast, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella.

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

In this question, option two shows the correctly punctuated bullet points. This is because each item in the list has a bullet point and there is a full stop at the end of the final item to indicate that the list has finished.

ANSWERS

Question 6

Can you choose which type of text we would use bullet points for?

CORRECT ANSWER

Non-chronological reports

EDDIE SAYS

Bullet points are useful when we are reading or writing information texts, which can also be called non-chronological reports. A bulleted list can help us to create notes from our research and give us a clear layout to follow when writing.

ANSWERS

Question 7

Are you more likely to use bullet points in a fiction or non-fiction piece of writing?

CORRECT ANSWER

Non-fiction

EDDIE SAYS

How did you get on? We are more likely to use bullet points in a non-fiction piece of writing. Non-fiction means the writing is factual, whereas fictional means the writing is based on fantasy and imaginary people and events.

ANSWERS

Question 8

When using bullet points to punctuate a list, the list should begin with what form of punctuation?

CORRECT ANSWER

A colon

EDDIE SAYS

At the start of a correctly punctuated list using bullet points, we should use a colon. A colon looks like this ':'

ANSWERS

Question 9

Read the sentence below carefully and then choose the words which would go into a bulleted list.

Today, I need to go to the shops in town to buy: milk, bread, butter and cheese.

CORRECT ANSWER

Milk, bread, butter, cheese.

EDDIE SAYS

There were a few different options to consider here! The words to fit into a bulleted list are: Milk, bread, butter, cheese. Note that the connective 'and' does not need to be used in the list, it is not an item to buy.

ANSWERS

Question 10

Read the sentence below carefully and then choose the words which would go into a bulleted list.

When packing my suitcase, I will include: suncream, beach ball, bucket, spade and shorts.

CORRECT ANSWER

Suncream, beach ball, bucket, spade, shorts.

EDDIE SAYS

There were a few different options to consider here! The words you would include in a bulleted list are: Suncream, beach ball, bucket, spade, shorts. Note that the connective 'and' does not need to be used in the list, it is not an item to buy. Great focus, that’s another activity completed!