Numbered list
A numbered list is a set of items in a specific sequence, marked with numerals or letters at the start of each line. Use it when the order of items matters to the reader.
Also known as:
Ordered list, Enumerated list
What is a numbered list?
A numbered list stacks items vertically and assigns each one a number, letter or roman numeral. You reach for it when the sequence carries meaning, such as steps in a tutorial, a ranked list or a procedure that has to run in order. Unlike a bullet list, the numbers communicate priority or order, not just enumeration.
A paragraph like "Set your password, confirm your email and log in" becomes a clear sequence:
Set your password.
Confirm your email.
Log in.
Why do numbered lists matter?
Numbered lists turn sequential information into something readers can follow without losing their place. They also let a reader return to step three after being interrupted, something a bulleted list or paragraph cannot do. In product writing, help documentation and onboarding flows, numbered lists are one of the clearest ways to move a reader through a task.
How do you use a numbered list?
Reserve numbered lists for cases where order matters or a reader may need to count items.
Keep each item short and parallel, starting with the same grammatical form so steps scan quickly.
Number with arabic numerals by default, reserving letters or roman numerals for nested or styled cases.
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