Discord Bullet Points: How to Create Clean Lists & Formatting

“How do I make those dot points in my message?”

“My list looks like a messy wall of text. Help!”

If you want your Discord messages to look professional and easy to read, you need to master Bullet Points. Sending a giant block of text is the fastest way to make people ignore your announcement or rules.

The short answer: To create a standard bullet point in Discord, simply type a hyphen (-) or an asterisk (*), add a space, and then type your message. Discord will automatically format it into a clean list.

Here is your complete guide to creating bulleted lists, numbered lists, and sub-lists (indentation) to make your chat organized.

📝 How to Make Standard Bullet Points

Creating a simple list is easy using Markdown, the formatting language Discord uses.

The Method:

Type one of the following symbols at the start of a new line, followed by a space.

• Hyphen: - Item
• Asterisk: * Item
• Plus Sign: + Item

What it looks like:

When you press Enter, Discord automatically converts it into a formatted list item with a solid dot.

Example Input:

– Apples

– Bananas

– Oranges

Result:

• Apples

• Bananas

• Oranges

🔢 How to Make Numbered Lists

If the order matters (like in a “Step-by-Step” guide or “Top 10” list), use numbers instead of dots.

The Method:

Type the number, a period, and a space.

• Input: 1. Item

What it looks like:

Example Input:

1. Open Settings

2. Click Video

3. Select Camera

Result:

1. Open Settings
2. Click Video
3. Select Camera

📂 How to Create Indented Lists (Sub-lists)

Want to create a hierarchy or a “list within a list”? You can do this by indenting.

The Method:

1. Create your first bullet point normally.
2. On the next line, add 2 or 3 spaces before typing your hyphen (-).

Example Input:

– Fruits

– Apple

– Banana

– Vegetables

– Carrot

Result:

• Fruits

○ Apple

○ Banana

• Vegetables

○ Carrot

Note: The visual style of the “hollow dot” (○) depends on the platform (PC/Mobile), but the indentation will work regardless.

💡 Pro Tip: Multi-Line Bullet Points

This is a common frustration: You want to write a long paragraph inside a single bullet point, but when you press “Enter,” it starts a new bullet.

The Fix: Shift + Enter

To create a line break without breaking the list format, hold Shift and press Enter.

• Enter: Starts a new bullet point.
• Shift + Enter: Moves to the next line but stays inside the current bullet point.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I change the shape of the bullet point?

A: No.

Discord uses a standard system font for lists. You cannot change the solid dot (•) to a square or a star unless you use a special Emoji instead of a standard bullet (e.g., ✨ Item).

Q: Why isn’t my list formatting?

A: You forgot the space.

This is the #1 mistake.

• *Item = Renders as *Item (No formatting).
• * Item = Renders as • Item (Formatted List).Make sure you hit the Spacebar after the symbol!

Q: Can I use Blockquotes (>) as a list?

A: Yes.

Typing > followed by a space creates a “Blockquote.” While not technically a bullet point, many people use it to list items that stand out.

> Item 1

> Item 2

🌟 Summary: Format Like a Pro

Using lists is the best way to ensure your friends actually read what you type.

1. Bullets: - (Hyphen + Space)
2. Numbers: 1. (Number + Period + Space)
3. Indent: Add spaces before the hyphen.
4. Multi-line: Use Shift + Enter.

Next Step: Try it out right now! Go to a private channel or your “Saved Messages” and try making a grocery list using the - command.