Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Changing the Bullet Type.

Changing the Bullet Type

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated December 30, 2017)

2

Word allows you to easily create bulleted lists in your documents. As a default, Word uses a small dot as the bullet. You can change the bullet to any character you desire. You can change the bullets by following these steps:

  1. Make sure the Home tab of the ribbon is displayed.
  2. Locate the Bullets tool within the Paragraph group. Click the down-arrow at the right of the Bullets tool. Word displays a palette of options.
  3. Select a bullet style from those shown in the Bullet Library portion of the palette.
  4. If you don't like any of the styles shown, click Define New Bullet. Word displays the Define New Bullet dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

    5. Figure 1. The Define New Bullet dialog box.

  5. Click the Symbol button. Word displays the Symbol dialog box. (See Figure 2.)

    6. Figure 2. The Symbol dialog box.

  6. Select a symbol to use as a bullet from among those shown.
  7. You can select a different set of symbols by selecting a different typeface in the Font drop-down list.
  8. When you have selected a symbol, click on OK. Word displays the Define New Bullet dialog box again.
  9. Click on OK to close the dialog box.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (5937) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Changing the Bullet Type.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Using Overtype Mode

When you type information into a document, what you type normally is inserted just the left of the insertion point. Word ...

Discover More

Positioning Headers and Footers

Headers and footers can add a finishing touch to your printed documents. Here's how you can position those headers and ...

Discover More

Protecting a Worksheet's Format

You can protect various parts of your worksheets by using the tools built into Excel. One thing you can protect is the ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2013. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2013 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Problems Using Words as Bullets

If you know the secret, you can use actual words as "bullets" in a bulleted list. The built-in bulleted lists in Word ...

Discover More

Strange Tab Settings in Bulleted Items

Getting bulleted lists to look just right can be challenging, particularly if you are using the Bullet tool on the Home ...

Discover More

Turning Off Automatic Bulleted Lists

As you are typing away on a document, you may notice that Word automatically formats bulleted lists (or what it thinks ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is three less than 9?

2018-03-03 14:11:47

Lewis Eigen

The colored bullet that you show in your first 6 examples is very good looking. However, it is not on my machine. Is there a wau to download it?

2018-01-11 16:28:44

Shelley

Changing the bullets was very interesting; but is there a way to change only certain bullets in a bulleted list? Thank you.

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2021 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.