Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Changing the Bullet Type.

Changing the Bullet Type

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated April 7, 2017)

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. Choose the Bullets and Numbering option from the Format menu. Word displays the Bullets and Numbering dialog box.
  2. Make sure the Bulleted tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

    3. Figure 1. The Bulleted tab of the Bullets and Numbering dialog box.

  3. Select a bullet style from those shown in the dialog box.
  4. If you don't like any of the styles shown, select one of the styles and click on Customize. Word displays the Customize Bulleted List dialog box. (See Figure 2.)

    5. Figure 2. The Customize Bulleted List dialog box.

  5. Select one of the six bullet characters available in the dialog box. If you use one of these, you can skip to step 10.
  6. If you do not like any of the bullet characters shown, click on the Bullet button. (In Word 2002 or Word 2003, click on the Character button.) Word displays the Symbol dialog box. (See Figure 3.)

    7. Figure 3. The Symbol dialog box.

  7. Select a symbol to use as a bullet from among those shown.
  8. You can select a different set of symbols by selecting a different typeface in the Font drop-down list.
  9. When you have selected a symbol, click on OK. Word displays the Customize Bulleted List dialog box again.
  10. 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 (36) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) 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. ...

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