How to Create a Bullet List in Markdown

The quick answer: Start each line with a hyphen (-), asterisk (*), or plus sign (+) followed by a space.

Basic Syntax

- First item - Second item - Third item

All three markers (-, *, +) produce identical results. Hyphens (-) are the most common convention.

Nested Lists

Indent sub-items with 2–4 spaces to create nested lists: - Main item - Sub-item A - Sub-item B - Another main item

Keep nesting to three levels maximum — deeper nesting becomes hard to read.

Lists with Paragraphs

To add multiple paragraphs to a list item, indent the continuation with 4 spaces (or a tab): - First item This is a second paragraph for the first item. - Second item

Common Mistakes

No space after the marker: - item works, -item does not. The space is required. Inconsistent markers: Mixing -, *, and + in the same list is technically valid but looks inconsistent in source code. Pick one and stick with it. Accidental list: A line starting with a hyphen followed by text sometimes accidentally creates a list when you wanted prose. Escape with \- if needed.

When to Use Bullet Lists vs Numbered Lists

Use bullet lists when order doesn't matter (features, options, considerations). Use numbered lists when sequence matters (steps in a tutorial, ranked items).

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Full reference: Markdown Bullet Lists.