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Can an Essay have Bullet Points? Tips How to use them Right

Can the Essay be written in Points

One can use bullets as a way of arousing your interest in an article. However, you should do it moderately without the instance of overusing them. Points are the easiest way of breaking the information.

Besides, you must consider your document and your audience before finding it appropriate to use bullets. When you use them well, it will make it easier to write a hard-to-please audience and nail your point home. 

An essay can have bullet points if they help in presenting the arguments that the essay seeks to present. The points can help the reader understand more about the subject being written about. However, bullets in an essay should be restricted to a few lines because it is not feasible to write the whole essay in point form. An essay is a prose text and can only accommodate a few bullets.

When using bullets, ensure the sentence is relatively short. Again, the bullet points do not have to be complete sentences. Such allow the online reader to scan through the content and have a clue of what you are talking about. The bullets are great for use in an essay because they enhance the easier processing of information. 

No, you will be on safer grounds if you write without bullets. Depending on your establishment, you should avoid the use of bullets to avoid criticism and complaints.

You can organize it in a three-paragraph format which includes the introduction, body, and conclusion. You can read more about how to structure an essay in our guide and get more insights on such paragraphing.

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Tips how to incorporate bullet points into an essay.

An academic article can include lists that assist in organizing the materials and enable the reader to have a quick overview of that section.

One should construct them in a parallel fashion so as to have a point per line.

They should be consistent and organized to support the argument of that paragraph and the thesis in general.

In all cases, avoid numbers, bullets, and letters.

Several ways exist to format lists, as follows:

1. Run-In Lists 

A run-list is part of the general text where you can separate the elements by performing the following actions.

• Separate them with Numbers: You can separate the list by numbering. For example, 

The steering committee passed resolutions on 1) Consensus building, 2) Community allowances, and 3) Implementation of critical agendas. 

• Separate with Colon: It is a complete sentence followed by a list of items. There will be a separate sentence emanating from the list with a colon, as shown in the example. 

Do not hunt in the forest without the following tools: a sword, a bag, boots, and a phone.

2. Vertical Lists 

When you use the vertical lists, you should start with a full sentence that will offer an overview of what to expect. However, the list should not take a bullet format, as indicated below. 

Your admission letter should include the following items:

• The overall fee structure for the whole year
• The doctor’s recommendation part
• Your contact details

Alternatively, suppose the lead-in sentence is complete featuring all entries in the list; you can use a punctuation mark to follow each entry. For example, you can use the bullet points as indicated in the bellow sentence.

You can make whole plant-based cookies by performing the following steps: 

• Preheat the oven to a minimum temperature of 350F. 
• Add the dried food to the bowl.
• Stir all these mixtures (listed above).
• You can empty the ingredients (listed above). 
• Cover and allow it to chill in a fridge.  

In the example above, the steps use numbers as the bullet form, and they are necessary to list the steps of the recipe. Notably, every entry is a complete sentence; hence, you must use a final period. 

3. Punctuating Vertical Lists as a Sentence 

Such a scenario is actually when the list is too long. The format is ideal when the phrases consist of internal punctuations, making the reader find it hard to follow.

For example,

The physics professors proposed significant changes in the curriculum, and now it is a norm to find 

• great focus on teamwork;
• customized in-class lectures to enhance all learning styles;
• creative research techniques with an emphasis on those that require knowledge in labs;
• bilingual lesson plans.

4. Vertical Lists featuring subdivided items 

One can format a complex vertical list to resemble an outline using letters or numbers in the logical procedure. The introductory line must be a complete sentence, as indicated in the following example.

The debating club should be ready to ventilate on the following topics: 

• Cultural developments 
• The spread of the language 
• Development of kingdoms 
• The role of chiefs 
• Notable figures 

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Examples of Main Points in an Essay

You can indicate your main points in an easy to aid the understanding of the reader. For example, in the following paragraph.

Mediation is an ancient practice that users consider as a mind-body medicine that promotes a tranquil mind. It consists of relaxed breathing, a focused mind, a quiet environment, and a comfortable position.

Bullet Point Essay Example

When talking about a particular topic on ‘Rabbit repellants,’ we can justify our argument using the following formats.

A rabbit repellent is efficient in keeping the rabbits away since it has some formulations that are not pleasant to rabbits. This repellent works by forming an inhospitable environment for the rabbits, prompting them to go to the other garden. A good repellant should have the following features:

• Natural ingredients 
• Long-lasting application 
• It is non-toxic to animals and pets 

Check out my guide on whether essays can have subheadings and see the other side of writing essays other than just using bullets.

Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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Q. Are bulleted lists allowed in APA Style? How do I format a bulleted or numbered list?

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Answered By: Jonathan Faerber (he/him/his) Last Updated: Nov 04, 2021     Views: 169452

APA Style (7th ed.)

Bulleted and numbered lists are permitted by the APA Style rules; however, if you're unsure if your instructor will permit them in your assignment, please check with your instructor. Keep in mind that because bulleted or numbered lists only provide surface-level information rather than include analysis, and because the focus of academic writing is to demonstrate your critical thinking, these lists are used sparingly in formal academic writing in favor of communicating your ideas in complete sentences and paragraphs. See below for information regarding formatting lists.

Bulleted lists

The capitalization and punctuation for each bulleted item depends on whether the items form sentences or sentence parts. If the bulleted text is a full sentence, capitalize the first letter of the first word and end the paragraph with a period. For example:

• This is a sentence.
• This is another sentence.
• This is the last sentence of the bulleted list.

When a bulleted list separates three or more elements within a sentence, “begin each bulleted item with a lowercase letter” and either punctuate each item in the list as parts of a sentence (e.g., inserting commas), or exclude punctuation after each item (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020, pp. 190-191). For example:

In December 2018, British Columbia had an extreme storm that caused:

• massive damage due to high winds,
• widespread power outages that lasted many days, and
• flooded roads.

This storm affected multiple areas on Vancouver Island, including:

For other examples of bulleted lists, see Bulleted Lists in the APA Style Blog. For an explanation of the difference between a complete sentence and its parts, please see Sentences  and Sentence Elements  on the Writing Centre website.

Numbered lists

Numbered lists are helpful to identify the organization of information, such as "itemized conclusions” or “steps in a procedure" (APA, 2020, p. 190). Keep the following steps when creating a number list:

• Create the numbered list using the numbered list function on Microsoft Word or similar program.
• Set off Arabic numerals at the beginning of each item with a period rather than parentheses (i.e., “2.” rather than “(2)” or “2)”)
• Begin each item in the numbered list with a capital letter, and follow appropriate sentence punctuation throughout the list, using end marks like periods, exclamation, or question marks where required.

Please keep in mind that "the use of 'numbered lists' may connote an unwanted or unwarranted ordinal position (e.g. chronology, importance, priority) among the items" (APA, 2020, p. 190). To avoid this suggestion of position, use a bulleted list instead. For more information on numbered lists, see Numbered Lists in the APA Style Blog.

Lettered lists within a sentence

Lettered lists within a sentence are a good way to identify elements in a series within a paragraph or sentence without breaking the elements into a numbered or bulleted list. To indicate the list, use lowercase letters in parentheses (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 189). For example, "students were asked to choose between completing (a) a formal research essay, (b) a documentary-style video, (c) a multi-media experience that involves participants". To punctuate a lettered list within a sentence, use commas between each of three or more items, or use semicolons when separating items that include commas, such as a series of phrases (APA, 2020, p.189). See Lettered Lists from the APA Style Blog for more information and examples.

American Psychological Association. (2020).  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed.).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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Bullet Point Your Research Paper: A How-To Guide

As the demand for college and university-level research papers grows, so too does the need for effective strategies to help students break down their written work into manageable pieces. One approach that is gaining traction among instructors and tutors alike is bullet point organization of a research paper. This method allows students to present information more concisely while still conveying enough detail in order to effectively support any argument or position they are trying to make. In this article, we will provide an overview of what bullet pointing involves and how it can be used as part of successful paper composition. We will also provide tips on making sure points are chosen wisely when constructing your essay structure with bullets, along with some useful techniques for enhancing readability through proper formatting conventions such as font size and spacing guidelines. Finally, we’ll offer advice on troubleshooting common issues related to presenting one’s writing using this style so that you can confidently submit papers which have been organized clearly via bulleted lists – no matter what assignment or academic setting you find yourself in!

1. Introduction to Bullet Pointing Research Papers

2. benefits of bullet pointing in writing processes, 3. strategies for effective bulletin point creation, 4. examples of well-formatted and cohesive bulleted points, 5. pitfalls to avoid when structuring bullets in a paper, 6. tips for paragraph development after listing points, 7. conclusion: utilizing bullets as an organizational tool.

Unleashing the Power of Bullet Points in Research Papers

Bullet points have become indispensable tools for expressing ideas and structuring content. With their succinct format, they can quickly summarize key concepts or arguments within research papers. While some academics regard bullet pointing as an oversimplification of complex material, when used effectively, it’s a powerful way to organize information into bite-sized chunks that are easier to digest.

At its core, the purpose of bullet point research is to provide clarity and facilitate understanding among readers by breaking up long texts with shorter points. They also help guide readers through different sections so they don’t get lost in meandering explanations and convoluted syntaxes – something which could easily be avoided with judicious use of bullets! So yes – can research papers have bullet points? . Absolutely! Not only do they make your paper look more organized but also communicate your thoughts better than sentences alone ever could.

Organization and Presentation of Ideas Bullet pointing is an effective writing tool for organizing ideas, which can help writers present complex information in a digestible manner. The structure allows readers to quickly skim over the text while still grasping important points without getting lost in details. This makes bullet-pointed paragraphs ideal when summarizing facts or providing quick overviews.

Moreover, bullets allow writers to connect pieces of information that might not have been otherwise related into categories, making them easier for readers to remember and absorb. Not only does this make it simpler to track concepts within texts but also highlights the most salient aspects of any given topic allowing readers to concentrate on more significant elements instead of wasting time with trivial details.

In terms of academic papers, researchers are often advised against using lists unless absolutely necessary due to their informal nature; however, there are instances where including some form bullets may improve readability such as when presenting survey results or numerical data. When used judiciously they can be beneficial by creating visual breaks between sections helping organize large chunks of content into manageable bitesize segments – something particularly useful during long-form assignments like dissertations or research papers.

Prioritize Points

Creating effective bullet points begins with prioritizing the most essential information. All topics should be given due consideration and weighted against each other. What is more important to emphasize in a research paper? Picking out key talking points can help readers understand the material quickly and easily, without overwhelming them with too much detail.

Organization is critical for creating memorable bullets that make an impression on viewers. Clarity must come first before aesthetic considerations are made about font type or size, as well as images or multimedia elements placed alongside them. It’s also worth considering if all parts of a topic will need bullet points or if some ideas can be explained further through text-based explanation; either way it’s important not to clutter up the page with too many bullets at once.

Balance Detail & Brevity

• Research papers often contain dry facts and technical language – but do these really have to appear in their plainest form within bullet lists?
• It helps to think of each point as having its own personality which comes from being able to capture complex ideas into concise words.

By using creative phrasing while still preserving meaning, content creators can craft captivating yet informative writing – especially when done right this provides an engaging entrypoint into understanding any subject matter no matter how complicated it may seem initially.

Bulleted points are a great way to add organization and structure to any type of document. They can be used in research papers, newsletters, brochures, webpages and other documents as they provide readers with an easy-to-read format that breaks down complex information into smaller chunks. When using bulleted points it is important to ensure that the content within each point is cohesive and well formatted for maximum impact.

Using Cohesive Points: To create effective bullet points it’s important that all of the items listed have some sort of common thread running through them so the reader doesn’t feel confused or overwhelmed by having too much unconnected material presented at once. For example if you were writing about different types of chocolate chip cookies then each point should contain relevant details like ingredients used, baking time required etc., rather than unrelated facts such as calorie counts or serving suggestions which could confuse readers who weren’t expecting these sorts of details included in your list.

• Chocolate Chip Cookies – 1/2 cup butter; 2/3 cup sugar; 1 egg…

Formatting Your Content: Additionally when creating bullet points make sure everything looks neat by formatting correctly including capitalizing words where appropriate, adding punctuation marks after each item on the list and not making individual entries run over multiple lines – unless absolutely necessary due to word count restrictions.

For instance instead of saying “chocolate chip cookie recipe contains Butter Sugar Egg Vanilla Extract Flour Baking Soda Salt” you’d want to write out something like this.

• “Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe – Contains : Butter , Sugar , Egg , Vanilla Extract , Flour , Baking Soda & Salt .”

. This makes your work appear more professional while also helping break up difficult concepts into easier pieces for better understanding!

In conclusion yes research papers can include bulleted lists but bear in mind both cohesion among points as well as proper formatting rules must be adhered too for best results.

When structuring bullets within an academic paper, there are certain pitfalls that should be avoided for the most effective communication of ideas and research outcomes. The following tips will help you keep your writing clear and concise while also avoiding common errors.

The first mistake to avoid is using too many bullet points – this can quickly make the text seem cluttered or disorganized. It’s important to use bullet points judiciously; often, two or three well-structured sentences may convey more information than a lengthy list of bullets would. Additionally, it’s worth noting that while some instructors allow them in their papers, not all do – so it pays to check with yours before including any! Lastly, avoid treating each bullet as if its own individual paragraph – instead think of them as subheadings which organize long blocks of copy into manageable sections.

• For example:

Bullets can add structure when discussing complex topics by breaking down long texts into shorter parts – but they shouldn’t be overused and should always fit logically into the overall narrative arc being created by your paper. Can Research Papers Have Bullet Points? Yes – provided that they follow specific formatting guidelines such as keeping bullets relatively brief (three lines maximum)and only using relevant information pertaining directly to your topic at hand. If used correctly, then yes–research papers can certainly benefit from organized lists!

Developing the Paragraphs: Once the points are listed, it’s important to build on them and develop each idea within a paragraph. This is done by linking the information from one point with that of another in order to create sentences which flow naturally together. The transition words used should be relevant and help keep readers engaged in reading further. Additionally, providing supportive details for every argument presented is essential; this can include quotes from reliable sources or statistics related to an issue discussed in the paper.

Another helpful strategy when developing paragraphs after listing points is using bullet points if they fit better than plain text – some research papers may benefit from having clearly outlined ideas more so than lengthy descriptive passages. Be sure to use consistent font sizes for any bullets as well as indentation spacing between them – these will make key concepts easier for readers to comprehend quickly without disrupting their overall understanding of your paper’s main arguments.

Bullet Points: Streamlining Content for Improved Comprehension

The utilization of bullet points is an effective tool when it comes to presenting data and information in a more organized manner. It helps keep track of the various topics being discussed, as well as guiding readers through essential facts and conclusions easily. Bullets are especially useful in research papers where there is often too much detail included that could otherwise be overwhelming for readers to digest all at once. In addition, they allow researchers to present their findings succinctly without having to sacrifice clarity or context.

By utilizing bullets, authors can make sure their paper stands out from others by providing a clear structure and concise style that makes the content easier on the eyes while still retaining its value. Furthermore, this organization technique enables them to organize sections into subsections more effectively – something which may not always be possible with paragraphs alone since many times these tend towards lengthy digressions rather than straightforward statements of fact.

Can research papers have bullet points? Absolutely! Bullet points should never replace full sentences nor do away with important explanations or arguments but they can certainly supplement written text by helping convey complex ideas quickly and efficiently – something particularly valuable when dealing with long academic essays like those typically found in peer-reviewed publications!

English: This guide to bullet point research paper writing has provided an in-depth examination of the structure and organization that can make this process easier. By following these steps, writers will be able to produce concise yet effective papers with a well-crafted flow and thoughtful presentation of information. Furthermore, they may even find themselves inspired by the creative ways in which bullet points allow them to present their ideas. For those seeking further assistance with formatting or general academic writing skills, additional resources are available for consultation.

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Can an Essay be Written in Bullet Points or Main Points Form

Bullets in Your Essay Writing

An essay is a piece of academic writing that ranges in length from 500 to 5000 words. Originally, the term essay meant practice or first attempt, which could imply an exploratory phase.

Essays are a type of intellectual investigation that involves examining various arguments and facts while also developing the writer’s point of view. Bullet points typically highlight and separate a list, and some subjects may allow them in essays.

It is essential to double-check the essay writing guidelines provided by your professors or institution. Some departments may demand bullet points in essays, while others prohibit them.

Can an Essay be Written in Bullet Points?

Essays normally adhere to a rigid format, but now and then, something happens to throw that structure off. The essay may require lists, which might cause problems with its design, organization, and grammar.

Ideally, an essay can be written in bullet points if that is how the instructor wants it or if only the main points format is required. Generally, in some subjects , readers will tend to understand your point quickly when you add a list of subtopics or themes, components of an item, phases of analysis, lists of recommendations, and the like.

The key to using lists in an essay is to employ proper punctuation and language while maintaining a consistent grammatical style.

To introduce a standard list, begin with a new sentence or independent clause.

To indicate that the list will be long, use a colon, or commas to divide items in a shortlist.

If you need to divide things in a list, a semicolon separates items with more than three words and items with commas. You can use a dash to start a shorter list from within a sentence. Dashes are informal punctuation that marks an abrupt transition in a sentence.

Numbered lists are different from other types of lists. You start with a statement that introduces the list, then list the stages with numerals and periods.

It is possible to incorporate numbered lists in an MLA essay, although you should avoid them as much as feasible. You can integrate lists in your essay in a few different methods, so ask your professor which style they prefer.

One technique to incorporate lists into MLA essays is to write them into a sentence.

Use a colon to introduce the list in the sentence, then commas or semicolons to separate the items on the list. You can employ parentheses to number the items in the list without the “and” at the end. Longer lists and lists with long articles benefit from block quotes.

Why Bullets are Discouraged in Essay Writing

Bullet points are discouraged in essays because educational institutions want to evaluate how well you can put words on paper rather than rely on writing aids like bullet points. The essays should have a formal framework, but the tone can depart significantly from formal rules.

The goal of writing an academic essay is to demonstrate your ability to conduct research, weigh arguments, organize your thoughts, articulate these views in a logical, cohesive, and critical manner, and draw conclusions based on the facts and arguments you present.

You will have to be judicious about what you write because the number of words and writing aids you can use is limited.

Writing an essay, regardless of topic, is a complex procedure that takes a great deal of practice, and regrettably, no method can guarantee excellent written work.

There is no one-size-fits-all technique to writing an essay; nonetheless, there are some duties that should assist you in producing a quality piece of work. When a bullet point is a complete sentence, it should begin with a capital letter and close with proper punctuation.

Bullet points don’t require a complete sentence. Keep Bullet point statements at a minimum to have the most impact.

You can also read a guide on how to write a college essay .

How to Incorporate Bullet Points into an Essay

There are specific guidelines to follow when using lists in your work. However, first, determine that you require a list. Lists are excellent when you need to convey a lot of information to the reader quickly and easily without bogging them down with lengthy passages.

They can also help provide precise instructions for a procedure, prerequisites for completing a specific task, or in using references to keep track of a timetable or an event.

When utilizing lists, make sure to adhere to acknowledged formatting standards.

It will instill confidence in your audience, and you will be sure to get a good mark.

You can use an online APA format generator to avoid making mistakes in your reference list.

When using lists, keep the following points in mind:

• If your list items are whole sentences, make sure to capitalize and punctuate each one as if it were a separate phrase.
• When employing fragmented sentences, avoid using any punctuation at the end.
• When using semicolons to divide list items, a full stop should come after the last item.
• Make sure your list items all have the same structure and style. For example, if you use complete sentences, make sure all of your list items are complete sentences.
• Make sure that all of the items on your list connect to the same subject.

In APA or MLA papers, use a bulleted list with semicolons.

A formal list using semicolons looks like this:

• Avoid overusing lists;
• Use lists to add interest to your work;
• You can use lists can in various documents, from a simple essay to a Ph.D. dissertation.

James Lotta

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Using Bullet Points

How to write bullets points correctly.

Create Parallel Lists (Use the Same Type of Word)

• Bathing in the river.
• Driving in the town.
• The local tapas bar.

Examples of Parallel Bullet Points

• Maintaining fire alarms and extinguishers.
• Training staff in CPR.
• Training staff how to use a defibrillator.
• Conducting routine fire-safety inspections.
• Complete the online data-storage course.
• Confirm your contact details with your line manager.
• Remove all personal items from their desks.
• Acquire a system log-in from the IT Support Desk.
• Tenacious in the pursuit of sales targets.
• Robust in the face of rejection.
• Determined to improve.
• Able to withstand pressure.
• Enthusiastic at all times.

Consistent Formatting with Bullet Points

Capital letter and a period (full stop).

• Egg-and-spoon race.
• Toss the pancake.
• Apple bobbing.

Lowercase Letters and No End Mark

• egg-and-spoon race
• toss the pancake
• apple bobbing

Punctuate Like a Sentence

• egg-and-spoon race,
• toss the pancake, and
• apple bobbing.

Punctuate Like a Sentence with Semicolons

• egg-and-spoon race;
• toss the pancake; and

Be Consistent!

Be Logical!

Don't Introduce Your List with a Semicolon

• Eating in the local tapas bar.

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• Writing Tips

How to Punctuate Bullet Points Correctly

4-minute read

• 20th January 2023

Bullet points are wonderful. They can help with concision, getting points across, and the organization of your text. However, poorly punctuated and formatted bullet point lists can have the opposite effect.

Punctuating bullet points correctly is something that often comes up in workplaces, academia, and beyond, and there’s a lot of conflicting information out there that has caused confusion.

So, in this blog post, we’re telling you everything you need to know, including what bullet points are, the basic rules of formatting them, how to punctuate them, mistakes to avoid, and tips for consistency and clarity.

What Are Bullet Points and How Are They Used?

Bullet points are used to format a list, with each list item being preceded by a bullet point (•). Here’s an example:

Things to do before the baby comes: ●  I need to paint the nursery. ●  John needs to assemble the cot. ●  I need to buy and fit a car seat. ●  We need to pick a name. ●  I’ll want to read some baby books.

Bullet points can be used to structure any list and are usually used to break up long blocks of text, highlight key points, or summarize text.

How to Punctuate Bullet Points

The first thing to do is check whether your style guide has anything to say about punctuating bullet points. If it does, then follow its instructions.

If no guidance has been provided, here is a commonly used and logical method of punctuating bullet points. The important thing is consistency; once you have settled on an approach, stick to it!

Capitalize the first letter of the first word of each bullet point, putting the remainder in sentence case (i.e., as if you were writing a normal sentence).

Next, decide whether to use punctuation at the end of each bullet point item.

Do use punctuation at the end:

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• If your bullet point list is made up of full sentences.
• If your list item is phrased as a question.

Here, the punctuation could be a period (.), a question mark (?), or an exclamation point (!). Whichever you choose will depend on your item and what you’re trying to convey.

Apart from the last bullet, don’t use punctuation at the end:

• If your list
• Short sentence fragments

Note that it is common to still capitalize the first word in the bullet (although style guides may vary).

Using these rules, we could rephrase the bullet point list mentioned above to avoid using punctuation:

Things to do before the baby comes: ●  Paint the nursery ●  Assemble the cot ●  Buy and fit a car seat ●  Pick a name ●  Read the baby books.

Common Issues to Avoid When Punctuating Bullet Points

If you can, avoid using full sentences and sentence fragments interchangeably, as it can make your lists challenging to read and looks messy on the page. If you do need to use a mixture, common practice is to treat the punctuation as if each bullet is a full sentence (i.e., to include punctuation at the end).

Consider how you want to punctuate sub-bullets, as this can be a bit of a minefield. The most straightforward way is to follow the approach given above (although some guides may recommend that you end sub-bullets with semi-colons and “and,”, as in a list). You can introduce the sub bullet with a colon.

Tips For Consistency

As mentioned above, consistency is crucial. Erratic formatting and punctuation can look like an error, even if the inconsistency is technically correct in isolation.

For example, if you make the stylistic choice not to include punctuation at the end of your bullet points, but then use punctuation in a different list in the same document, it will look like you’ve made a proofreading mistake.

So, regardless of how you choose to lay out your bullet points, ensure that the formatting is consistent. To ensure absolute consistency, if your style guide doesn’t cover this issue already, we advise that you use and expand on the approach we have given above. These simple steps will help you use bullet points effectively to organize and highlight important information in your writing. If you need further support with formatting bullet points, our team of experts is ready to help and will proofread your first 500 words for free!

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Can an Essay or Paper be written in Points or bullet format

• by Joshua Beshy
• September 30, 2022 October 11, 2022

Is it correct to write your essay in point form? The answer to this question is both yes and no. The reason is that you can write your essay in points or paragraphs, depending on what works for you.

Points happen to be handy and crucial when breaking a large text into smaller ones. For more information about how to write such write top-notch essays, continue reading this article.

Can an Essay be written in Points?

It depends entirely upon the style of the essay. Points are a distinct way to write, but they do not lend themselves well to the essay format.

An essay or a paper can be written in points if they must be included in that format to strengthen the argument or provide further evidence. However, in normal academic writing, an essay should be written in prose so as to explore an idea or a concept and present arguments based on facts and examples.

Essays seek to provide analysis and depth with the points made, rather than simply listing them. This is made in an argumentative way.

However, a point-based approach is one that utilizes the listing of points with little exploration of those points. That is the essence of making arguments and a thesis statement, which we discussed in a guide to writing good essays and papers.

How to Include your Main Points in an Essay

The main point is the purpose an author is trying to make with a piece of writing. The main points should appear in the thesis, or what the author is trying to prove.

First, make sure that the main points of your essay are clear.

Then, make a list of the main points you want to cover in your essay.

Next, decide what words or phrases will help you connect each of these main ideas to the remainder of the paragraph

Finally, once you are ready to include your main points, select one or more sentences from each paragraph and rewrite them with transitions included.

Write two to four sentences that support the main point. Support consists of facts, examples and explanations for why the main point matters.

Facts can include statistics (such as percentages), quotes from experts, and research findings.

Examples include personal anecdotes, historical events, and current events. But prose personal points are done in personal narratives. Read how to write personal narratives in essay writing.

Explanations show how and why something happened or is true. The most effective explanations delve into cause-and-effect relationships.

Incorporating main points into your essay will help the reader focus on the topic at hand. This will also help you make sure you are teaching your readers everything they need to know about the topic.

Before including your main points in an essay, it is essential that you observe the following approach: 

1. Begin with a topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the paragraph.

2. Transitions between introductory and body paragraphs should be clear and smooth.

3. Include transition words that add cohesion to the paragraph, such as first, furthermore, moreover and therefore.

4. Make sure that you use sentences that are varied in structure and length to maintain reader interest.

How to Use Bullet Points in an Essay

Bullet points work to draw attention to important information within a document so that a reader can identify the key issues and facts quickly.

There are no fixed rules about how to produce bullet points; it will depend on your topic, the discipline in which you are working, and your style. 

Using bullet points in academic paper writing is one way to present information clearly and logically.

When used properly, bullets can highlight important elements of a paper and make it easier to scan important details at a glance. 

However, there are some general principles that you can follow when creating bullet point lists as follows:  

• Limit each list to five or six items. It is better to create two separate lists than one long list of 10 bullet points or more. A long list of bullet points makes it difficult for readers to focus on the information you want them to remember most.
• Start each bullet point with the same style of punctuation mark (for example, all bullets should begin with letters, or all bullets should begin with numbers). You can also use all-capitalized letters or lowercase letters throughout your list, but don’t mix both styles in one list.
• Bullet points are essential if there is a sequence of information. Do not use them if you have one item with sub-items.
• Bullet points should work for the main headings in your text and not for long paragraphs.
• There should be at least two bullet points. If there is only one item then reword it so that it becomes part of a sentence.
• Provide the main idea in the first bullet point and follow with supporting information.

Can an Essay be written in bullet Points?

Yes, an essay can be written in bullet points, but this depends upon the type of essay you are going to write. If it is a narrative essay, then you should mention a story with the use of points. If it is an argumentative essay, then you can present your arguments in points. If it is a descriptive essay, then also you can describe your topic in points.

The only thing is that when writing an essay in points, you have to be more specific. You do not just come up with the points without any explanations or illustrations.

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You're here: textbroker.com » Blog » For authors » Punctuation » When To Use Bullet Points In Your Writing

When To Use Bullet Points In Your Writing

Bullet points are a crucial tool for writers. These points provide clarity and focus for readers, quickly highlighting important topics.

As writers, we all agree that when you write copy for online viewership, it is different.  You have to persuade and honestly explain the goals of what you are writing in a better way.  Nothing helps this more than an understanding of when to use bullet points.

Our society has become a nation of skimmers and not deep readers.  This means, as writers, we must grab your attention and grab it quickly.  

As a content creator, what is the best way to handle this?  I could argue a point for making my content shorter , but I know that longer pieces often get better engagement .  Great content requires excellent substance, so that should be the goal.  Writing articles is about grabbing the reader’s attention, which needs me to focus on current trends .  In the world of copy, one of the most essential tools is the small but powerful bullet point.  

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When to use Bullet Points? 

When I think of the bullet point, I think of getting right to the topic.  I then have to explain the subject (or subject) precisely and honestly.  The author has to deliver instant gratification, or the intention of using the bullet point(s) has not been fruitful.

Using bullet points is a simple but powerful way to present a list of facts, statistics, or even traits of a subject.  You can even use bullet points to give instructions that sometimes do not need to be on a numbered list but instead, just get noted quickly.

Often bullet points are overutilized, so keep in mind your article structure to create the best formatting.  The goal is to enhance the article, not overwhelm the reader with lists.

Let’s discuss how to use bullet points:

• Remember to include a colon at the end of the text when introducing a bullet point section.
• Use the same font and margin width at each point.
• Ensure all the items in the list are related.
• Proper structure is still important.  If you’re creating sentences, capitalize the sentence and end with the appropriate punctuation.
• Bullet points can be words, phrases, or sentences.
• Important – always try to keep your bullet points as short as possible.

While there are best practices for using bullet points, remember that there is still flexibility based on your topic and article structure.  As an author, remain consistent and stick to an outline that works for you and your skills.  Make your copy easy to read with a visually appealing format.

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Why do authors use bullet points? 

There are many reasons why writers use bullet points.  Almost always, they fall into one of the following categories.

Summarization 

As mentioned, writing today is entirely different than a decade ago.  Trying to keep a reader’s attention sometimes means summarizing an issue.  This is where bullet points come can be extremely useful.

Expression of Major Points or Issues 

They can make a list of issues appear more professional.  If this leads to a better understanding by the reader, then you have done your job with your writing.

Item Lists 

Without a doubt, they can be used as a simple way to display a list of items.  

Give Directions 

They can help organize directions. 

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Knowing when to use bullet points is a great way to emphasize important aspects of your article.  As mentioned, don’t overuse and assess the structure of your paper.  Also, consider your audience , and how they will read and comprehend your writing.  If used correctly, bullet points can and will help your audience understand the key points of your content.

Feel free to contact us for any questions or concerns – Our team is always available to assist you!

Bullet Point FAQs 

What are the rules for a bullet points list? 

The items of a bulleted list must be short. Avoid bulleted items that are longer than two lines. If you need longer items, put them in the running text. Bulleted items should not repeat parts of the introductory sentence. 

When should you not use bullet points? 

Inappropriate use of bullet points arises when writers attempt to present an argument in list form. Bullet points alone are insufficient to constitute an argument. While bullet points can be helpful for complex ideas, they can also result in disjointed points. As such, connecting the pieces and ensuring the argument flows logically is crucial.

• August 15, 2022
• July 08, 2023
• randypalmer
• Blog, For authors, Punctuation, Professionalism, Grammar, Style

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Essay writing tips

• Time management tips
• Exam prep and mindset

Not sure how to get started with an assignment? Here are our top tips to help you avoid all-nighters.

Plan first, write later.

Plan your essay in bullet points before you start writing it. This makes it easy to have an overview of your essay and structure your argument so you know what to write. Make your points follow on from one another so your argument builds to a logical conclusion. Once you have all your points in order, then start writing.

You don't need to have done 100% of your research to start writing your essay. Make notes as you research and organise these into key points. Use these as the basis for your bullet points. (Reference the source for your notes as you go — this will make referencing your essay later much easier.)

Once you have your bullet list essay outline, you can start writing — one bullet point at a time. This makes essay writing more manageable than trying to think about the whole piece at once. If you struggle to expand on a bullet point, you probably need to do more research. The good news? You only need to focus your research on this missing bit of information.

You don't need to tackle your bullet points in order. It's usually best to focus on whichever one you have the most information for or are in the mood to write about. You can go back and fill the gaps in any earlier bullet points later, once you’ve made some progress with the rest of your essay and built some momentum. (Mildly interesting fact: professional writers use "TK" as a placeholder for missing information. If you use a similar method, you can go back and search for "TK" once you've finished your first draft, then tackle each missing item one at a time until your essay draft is complete.

Keep writing and editing separate

Don't worry about word count or try to edit your essay while writing your first draft. Your first goal is to expand on each bullet point until you get all the way through your essay. The quality of writing in your first draft doesn't matter. What matters at the start is momentum. You can fix the word count by adding or removing words and tightening up your writing so it reads well after you've finished your first draft.

Once your first draft is written, you're ready to proofread and edit it. It's usually helpful to put your first draft aside for a few hours (ideally overnight) once you've finished it and come back to it with fresh eyes to edit it. you have two goals for this stage: 1. Edit for clarity 2. Edit for wordcount Go through it sentence by sentence and ask yourself these questions: · Have I said what I wanted to say? · Does it make sense? · Is this the best way to say it? If you are under your word count, look for areas where you can give more detail to improve the clarity or strength of your argument. If you are over your word count, look for places where you have repeated yourself or are over-explaining things. Also, look for ways you can restructure sentences to make them shorter. This can be challenging. It's usually easier to add words than cut them, but there should be parts of your first draft that are the written equivalent of "thinking aloud." You can often cut many words by focusing on these areas and turning whole paragraphs into single sentences. Similarly, long, complicated sentences can often be split into two or three simple short sentences that improve clarity and reduce your total wordcount.

Do the details last

Add references and formatting at the end. It's much quicker to write and edit your first draft if you don't worry about formatting and referencing at this early stage. Once you've edited for clarity and length, read back through your essay one final time, and format your text and add references as you go. Once you get to the end of this final pass, you are done.

You can (kind of) apply this approach to non-essay projects. Outline a project plan first before you get stuck in. If you plan well and make your decisions on paper before you start to execute your project, you're less likely to run into unforeseen problems part-way through and you should get a better finished project with less effort and stress as a result.

Essay writing summary

1. Start your essay by making a bullet point outline. This will break your essay into manageable bite-sized chunks. Your outline will expand and get reordered as you do your research 2. Once you're happy with your bullet point essay outline, write your first draft by expanding on each point. If any points are hard to expand on, move on to the next point. come back later and do more focused research on any missing points 3. Write your first draft quickly. Momentum is your friend. Don't worry about word count. You can add or remove words later when you edit it 4. Once you've finished your first draft, go back and fill in any missing points. Once you've done this, read through your essay and edit it for clarity and length. Short, simple sentences help with both of these, so use fewer commas and more full stops. 5. Once you have an edited essay of appropriate length, give it a final read-through, add references, and format it so it is presentable and easy to read.

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How to Use Bullet Lists and Number Lists in a Research Paper

Academic articles often include lists, which organize the material and provide the reader with a quick overview of a section. There are different ways to format lists, but some general principles apply to all of them: they should be constructed in a parallel fashion, and they should be consistent. Numbers, letters, and bullet points are not required in all cases. Academic writers who use The Chicago Manual of Style will find various formats there, but four common list formats are presented here.

Types of List Formats

Run-in lists.

A run-in list, as the name suggests, is included as part of the general text. Elements can be separated in different ways, as shown in the examples below.

Separated with a Colon:   When a complete sentence is followed by a list of items, separate the sentence from the list with a colon.

E.g. “ Do not venture into the wilderness without these items: a knife, a book of matches, a flashlight, and a map. ”

Separated with Numbers:  When the list is part of the sentence, you can separate the items by numbering them.

E.g. “ The Housing Committee passed resolutions on (1) annual salaries, (2) fundraising efforts, and (3) community building. ”

Related: Need instant academic writing tips on your cell phone? Download the FREE Enago Academy mobile app now!

Vertical Lists

A vertical list should be preceded by a complete sentence that gives an overview of the points being listed. The list does not need to have a bullet point format and a punctuation mark is not at the end of the entries. For example:

Your admissions packet should include these items:

The three-page statement of purpose

The financial questionnaire

Your contact information

If the lead-in sentence is a complete one and all entries in the list are complete sentences, a punctuation mark should follow each entry. For example (using bullet points):

Make perfect banana bread every time by following these easy steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Grease an 8 x 8 baking dish.
• Combine all the dry ingredients (listed above).
• Gently fold in the wet ingredients (listed above).
• Pour the batter into the dish and bake for 45 minutes.

Again, note that because each entry in the list is a complete sentence, a final period is used.

Vertical Lists Punctuated as a Sentence

When a list is too long or convoluted to be presented as one sentence, you can use a vertical list that is punctuated like a sentence. This format is especially useful when the phrases include internal punctuations or the reader might find it difficult to follow the meaning. An example follows below.

Biology instructors have made significant changes to their curricula and classrooms, and today it is common to find

• innovative research techniques, especially those requiring knowledge of anatomy, in labs;
• greater focus on teamwork;
• in-class lectures customized for learning styles; and
• bilingual lesson plans.

Vertical Lists with Subdivided Items

A complex vertical list may be formatted in a way that resembles an outline, using numbers and letters to provide a logical structure. The lead-in (introductory) line should be a complete sentence, as seen in the example below.

Students should be prepared to discuss the following topics:

• Regional History
• Geography and landmarks
• Erosion in mountainous areas
• Notable Figures
• The first tribal chieftains
• The emergence of political divisions and leaders
• The role of women
• Cultural Developments
• The spread of language
• Music used to bind communities

The next time you read a research paper , look for lists and examine how they were constructed. Do the entries use a consistent format? Are the numbers and/or letters correctly placed and in the proper order? Is the lead-in line a complete sentence? If you find that these steps are all present, chances are that the author took the time to research the structure of lists and present them accurately. Now you can do the same.

References:

• Get It Write. Handling Vertical Lists.  Retrieved from http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/101406VerticalLists.htm

Very helpful and precise

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Best Practices for Bullet Points

The days of long sentences in long paragraphs are long gone. Our readers need to retrieve information fast. An excellent way to help them do this is to lay out information in bulleted lists.

Definition: A “bullet point” is an item introduced by a dot (“bullet”) or a similar icon, like this:

• This is an example of a bullet point.

Here are 10 tips for creating crisp, clear bullet points.

Use bullet points to list features, steps, or tips, like this list.

• Emphasize the beginning of the bullet point, as in this list, when the first few words capture the main idea. That way, readers can skim easily. Use bold type, italics, or underlining for emphasis.
• Make bullet points consistent in structure. For example, make all of them sentences or fragments or questions. However, if you have two sets of bullet points in a document, you don’t need to make them consistent with each other–just within themselves. This usually easy to do by properly introducing your bullet points .
• Punctuate bullets consistently. That is, if one bullet ends with a period (full stop), end all with a period, following these rules: a. If all bullets are sentences, end each one with a period (full stop). b. If all bullets are phrases or fragments, use no end punctuation.Here is a helpful piece on how to format bulleted lists .
• Avoid ending bullet points with semicolons. Semicolons have been used that way, but the style seems old-fashioned in today’s crisp documents.
• Avoid making bullet points so long that they look like paragraphs. Three lines is a reasonable maximum length.
• Number bullet points when you have many –more than five or so. That way your readers can easily track the bullets and refer to them.
• Avoid using transition words and phrases such as “secondly” or “another point.” Such linking phrases are unnecessary, and they slow down readers.
• Be sure bullet points are related , especially if you have a lot of them. When you have many, you may need two sets instead of one. For example, if your bullets contain a blend of advantages and opportunities, break them into two lists, with one labeled Advantages and another labeled Opportunities .
• Avoid bullet points when you want to build rapport or deal with a sensitive issue. Bullets communicate efficiency rather than warmth.
• Lay out bullet points cleanly. Avoid a variety of fonts or a mix of margins.

Besides helping your readers skim for information, bullet points make life easier for you as a writer. With bullet points, you can use simple structures and punctuation, and you don’t need to worry about how your sentences flow from one item to the next.

This post (the piece you are reading now) would have been much longer and more challenging to write if I had composed it as an essay. Did you find this one easy to skim?

Further reading: Punctuating Bullet Points

If the bullets are not punctuated in between, do you place a period at the end of the last bullet, if the end of the sentence is there?

Mary Kay, good question! No, odd as it seems, there is no punctuation after the last bullet. Thanks for asking.

If the bullet points are fragments or phrases should they still start with a capital letter?

Rob, reference books differ on this question. “The Gregg Reference Manual” capitalizes all bullets. “The Chicago Manual of Style” capitalizes bulleted fragments only when they are in numbered lists. So if you were to use fragments with simple bullets (no numbers), “Chicago” would advise you to make them lower case.

I follow “Gregg” because I like the consistency of all bullet points being capitalized.

Here is the case: A bullet point includes 2 sentences, this being the only exception along all the other bullet points that would be fragments. Can I keep this bullet point without a period at the end for consistency purpose? One example is: – Quick-drying, water-based ink resists smearing. Writing won’t bleed through paper Can I leave this bullet point without a period at the end if all the other bullet points do not end with one? Thanks much!

Your two-sentence bullet will seem weird without a period at the end, especially with a period between its two sentences. You could try to make the bullet into a fragment, something like this:

Quick-drying water-based ink–less smearing, no bleed-through writing

I’m wondering why all the others are fragments and this one isn’t. I would prefer consistency.

Hi! Can a bullet point includes just one sentence or phrase? Or does it has to include at least 2 sentences or phrases?

Emanuel, people argue over this question. My view is that using a bullet is a design decision. If you have just one point you want to set off in a bullet, fine–use just one bullet. Other people, however, feel that bullets should be reserved for lists and that “list” means more than one item. I believe a list can have just one item–my shopping list or to-do list, for example.

Hi, Is it ever possible to begin bullet points with small case letters (e.g. if they end the sentence which introduces the bullet points)?

Thanks for your help.

Anna, capitalization depends on which style you follow. I follow “The Gregg Reference Manual” and the “Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications.” Both of them capitalize all bullet points. “The Chicago Manual of Style,” however, capitalizes bullet points only in certain circumstances. If you followed “Chicago,” you would not capitalize list items that complete the introductory words.

Hope that helps.

How would you recommend incorporating exclamation points into bulleted lists? It seems appropriate to include them even in fragmented lists that have no end punctuation on other lines. What is your sense?

Geoff, it is hard to imagine using an exclamation at the end of a bullet point, if the other points don’t have end punctuation. Maybe in parentheses?

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Arizona Republicans Thwart Attempts to Repeal 1864 Abortion Ban

Democrats in both houses of the Legislature were blocked from advancing bills to roll back the reinstated ban on nearly all abortions in the state.

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By Jack Healy and Kate Zernike

Reporting from Phoenix

A decision by Arizona’s highest court upholding an 1864 ban on nearly all abortions created chaos and confusion across the state on Wednesday. As abortion providers were flooded with phone calls from frantic patients, Republican lawmakers at the State Capitol blocked efforts to undo the ban, prompting angry jeers from Democrats.

Democrats, who seized on the decision to resurrect the 160-year-old ban as a pivotal election issue, tried to push bills through the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal the ban , a move they said would protect women’s health and freedom, and also force Republicans to take a formal vote on the law.

But Republican leaders in the Senate removed one bill from the day’s agenda on Wednesday, legislative aides said. In the House, a Republican lawmaker who had called for striking down the law made a motion to vote on a Democratic repeal bill that has sat stalled for months. But Republican leaders quickly scuttled that effort by calling for a recess, and later adjourned until next Wednesday.

Democrats on the Senate floor yelled “Shame!” and “Save women’s lives!” as their Republican colleagues filed out of the chamber.

“I don’t see why we wouldn’t move forward,” said State Senator Anna Hernandez, Democrat of Phoenix. “Are they serious about this or are they not?” she said of the Republicans. “Are they just backpedaling when they realize they’re on the losing side of a policy battle?”

Despite the pressure from Democrats and some Republicans to undo the law, it was uncertain whether Republican leaders, who narrowly control both chambers of the Legislature, would allow any immediate action on proposals to repeal the ban.

Representative Teresa Martinez, a Republican and abortion opponent, criticized Democrats for trying to force a vote a day after the court’s ruling . She called their chants and shouts extremist and insurrectionist behavior.

“We do not want to repeal the pre-Roe law without first having a conversation about it,” she said in a floor speech. “There is no reason to rush on this very important topic. We must listen to all viewpoints thoroughly. We cannot do that when our colleagues are acting in the way they did this morning.”

The Senate president and House speaker, both Republicans, issued a joint statement emphasizing that the court’s ruling had not yet taken effect and probably would not for weeks, as the legal fight over the 1864 law heads back to a lower court for additional arguments over its constitutionality.

They said they were reviewing the ruling and would listen to their voters to determine what the Legislature should do. But Axios reported that the House speaker, Ben Toma, opposed a repeal and said that he would not allow a vote on it.

Democrats say they have limited time and ways to repeal the law because it is late in Arizona’s legislative session.

The decision and subsequent backlash has exposed divisions among Arizona Republicans over their support for abortion restrictions. And it has highlighted how abortion has become a political vulnerability for Republicans since the overturning of Roe v. Wade two years ago, even in traditionally conservative states.

Some Arizona Republicans who had previously voted to support abortion restrictions or give legal protection to fetuses abruptly shifted course after the ruling on Tuesday and called for a repeal or some other legislative fix.

On Wednesday, former President Donald J. Trump, who has claimed credit for appointing the U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned the constitutional right to abortion, said that Arizona’s high court had gone too far, and that he believed “that will be straightened out.”

But the state’s ultraconservative Freedom Caucus praised the court’s ruling, saying it protected innocent lives, and it vowed to oppose efforts to undo it.

Clinics and patients scrambled to make sense of the legal and administrative confusion left by the 4-to-2 vote by Arizona’s high court, with little certainty about when the 160-year-old ban would go back into effect.

Phones have been ringing constantly at Camelback Family Planning in Phoenix, according to Dr. Gabrielle Goodrick, the clinic’s owner and medical director, with patients asking whether they can still obtain services and for how long.

“They’re just freaking out,” Dr. Goodrick said.

She said her clinic, one of seven free-standing abortion facilities in the state , had twice before been forced to temporarily stop providing abortions after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe. The threat of having to stop again because of the 1864 ban, Dr. Goodrick said, would upend clinics and threaten patients’ health.

“We’re living in a dystopia,” she said. “I’m hoping the Legislature will do something. This is not what Arizonans want.”

While the number of abortions nationally has increased since the Dobbs decision, Arizona was one of the few states where it declined from 2020 to 2023, even though abortion remained legal. Doctors say that was in part because of uncertainty over the 1864 ban, which had been dormant as long as Roe was the law of the land.

(The same decline happened in Wisconsin, which also has a ban from 1849 still on the books. A judge ruled last year that the law did not make abortions illegal, but the State Supreme Court is considering an appeal of that ruling).

Emergency room doctors, anesthesiologists and obstetricians said they worried about being sued if they took part in an abortion even if it was endangering a woman’s health or life. Those fears were eased somewhat after hospitals and their lawyers came up with policies, said Dr. Julie Kwatra, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Honor Health in Scottsdale.

“This feels like a cataclysm,” Dr. Kwatra said. “The Dobbs decision was a shock, and even if people were not entirely comfortable with the 15 weeks there was a feeling that Arizona dodged a bullet,” she said.

“Now, no. We did not dodge the bullet,” she said.

According to WeCount, a measure by the Society of Family Planning , the number of abortions in Arizona dropped to 210 the month after Roe was overturned, down from 1,470 abortions the month before. While the monthly number began to climb again in subsequent months, data from Arizona’s health department showed a decline of nearly 18 percent from 2021 to 2022.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, the number of abortions in Arizona declined by 10 percent from 2020 to 2023. By contrast, New Mexico, where many abortion providers from banned states moved their practices after Roe was overturned, saw a 257 percent increase.

Because of an order in a separate lawsuit over the ban, the state cannot begin enforcing it until 45 days after the State Supreme Court enters its judgment. Planned Parenthood and other clinics said they would continue to provide abortions, within 15 weeks of pregnancy, “for a short period of time” until the ban is in effect.

The Abortion Access Dashboard, maintained by researchers at Middlebury College, says the average distance to an abortion provider in Arizona is now about 32 miles and 36 minutes. Under the ban, the database estimates that women seeking abortions would have to drive nearly four hours and 248 miles.

Arizona’s attorney general, Kris Mayes, a Democrat, has said that she will not allow prosecutions under the law. But Dr. Kwatra, the state’s legislative chair for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says providers are telling her that they will not risk offering abortions.

“What happened after Dobbs was that there was a period where abortion was not provided, then very quickly it was being provided but people on the ground did not know that, so I had patients that were still going out of state because they didn’t ask, and they still thought it was illegal,” she said. “That chilling effect is still an issue. People leave the state, and that delays care.”

“Even if the providers don’t shut down, their staff might leave,” Dr. Kwatra said. “There still is a black cloud of illegality.”

An earlier version of a picture caption with this article incorrectly identified Speaker Ben Toma of the Arizona House of Representatives. That picture actually showed the speaker pro tem, Travis Grantham.

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Jack Healy is a Phoenix-based national correspondent who focuses on the fast-changing politics and climate of the Southwest. He has worked in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s journalism school. More about Jack Healy

Kate Zernike is a national reporter at The Times. More about Kate Zernike