How to Customize Bullets in Microsoft Word

When you are writing a document in Microsoft Word, you may find it necessary from time to time to make bulleted lists. Bullets are very useful when you have several points to convey, allowing you to just list them without trying to incorporate them smoothly into your text. Breaking up a paragraph in this way is also easier for the reader, allowing them to find important information quickly. It is also difficult for many readers to stay focused when reading long paragraphs, especially if the material is a little dry, and using bullets help to break up the monotony. Microsoft word offers several different bullet styles, or you can create your own bullets to customize your document. This can be fun when creating flyers or other documents that have logos or themes, or the bullet can differentiate different types of information. For example, if you are listing pros and cons, you might want green pluses for the pros and red Xs for the cons.

Instructions

Microsoft Word 2007

1. Open your document in Microsoft Word.

2. Write or select the text you want to convert to bullets. Hit the Enter key after each point.

3. Select the Home menu. In the Paragraph section, locate the bullets button. It will look like a tiny bulleted list with a down-pointing arrow to the right of it.

4. Click the down-pointing arrow. Word will display a “bullet library” of symbols to choose from. Below that will be a link titled, “Define new Bullet…” Click on that.

5. Make your choices from the dialogue box that appears. You can click on symbol to select one of many different symbols offered in the Microsoft Office products (hint: if you do not see one you like, click on the Font menu at the top to see more choices. Wingdings has many to choose from). You can also select Picture and either use one that is available or click Import , locate a picture from your computer and select it, then click Add. You can then use that picture as a bullet.

6. Click on Font to change the color or size of your bullet.

7. When you have made all of your selections, click OK. Your text should now be bulleted with the bullet you created.

Microsoft Word 1997-2003

1. Open your document in Microsoft Word.

2. Write or select the text you want to convert to bullets. Hit the Enter key after each point.

3. Click on the Format menu, then Bullets and Numbering.

4. Click Customize.

5. Make your choices from the dialogue box that appears. You can click on symbol to select one of many different symbols offered in the Microsoft Office products (hint: if you do not see one you like, click on the Font menu at the top to see more choices. Wingdings has many to choose from). You can also select Picture and either use one that is available or click Import, locate a picture from your computer and select it, then click Add. You can then use that picture as a bullet.

6. Click on Font to change the color or size of your bullet.

7. When you have made all of your selections, click OK. Your text should now be bulleted with the bullet you created.