[docizr-book]

Organising with Lists ^Beginner

[/docizr-book]

Lists are everywhere in good writing — packing guides, recipes, instructions, recommendations. Markdown lets you create a bullet list in seconds and a numbered list almost as quickly. This workflow shows you both and explains when each one works best.

What You Will Need

Your Markdown editor, open and ready. Start with a fresh document for this workflow.

Workflow

Step 1

Aim: write a bullet list.

A bullet list is perfect when the order of items does not matter — things you need, options to consider, features to mention. Each item starts with a hyphen and a space.

## What to Pack

- Passport and travel documents
- Phone charger
- Adapter plug
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes

In the preview you should see a clean list with a bullet point before each item. The items carry equal weight — none is more important than another, and they could appear in any order.

Step 2

Aim: write a numbered list.

A numbered list is for steps, instructions, or anything where sequence matters. Start each line with a number and a full stop. Markdown will number the items correctly in the output.

## What to Pack

- Passport and travel documents
- Phone charger
- Adapter plug
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes

## How to Check In Online

1. Go to your airline's website
2. Click 'Manage my booking'
3. Enter your booking reference and surname
4. Select your seats
5. Download or print your boarding pass

The numbered list appears with 1, 2, 3 and so on. The order is meaningful — you need to complete step 1 before step 2. Use a numbered list whenever sequence matters; use bullets when it does not.

Step 3

Aim: add a short note inside a list item.

You can follow a list item with an indented paragraph that adds detail, without breaking the list. Indent the extra text with four spaces (or press Tab once) to keep it attached to its item.

## What to Pack

- Passport and travel documents

    Keep a photo of these on your phone as a backup.

- Phone charger

    Check whether your destination uses a different plug type before you pack a separate adapter.

- Sunscreen

    Pack this in your hold luggage if it is over 100 ml — it will not get through security in your hand luggage.

- Comfortable walking shoes

The indented lines appear as continuation text beneath their list item — still part of the list, but with extra context attached.

Step 4

Aim: combine emphasis and lists.

Bold and italic work inside list items exactly as they do in paragraphs. This is particularly useful for lists where one piece of information needs to stand out from the rest.

## Essential Items — Do Not Forget These

- **Passport** — check it is valid for at least six months from your travel date
- **Travel insurance documents** — keep a printed copy *and* a digital copy
- **Medication** — carry enough for the whole trip *plus a few extra days*
- Any **prescription letters** from your doctor

Step 5

Aim: review your document.

Your document now has three sections using both types of list, with emphasis added where it matters most.

# Holiday Preparation Guide

## What to Pack

- Passport and travel documents
- Phone charger
- Adapter plug
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes

## How to Check In Online

1. Go to your airline's website
2. Click 'Manage my booking'
3. Enter your booking reference and surname
4. Select your seats
5. Download or print your boarding pass

## Essential Items — Do Not Forget These

- **Passport** — check it is valid for at least six months from your travel date
- **Travel insurance documents** — keep a printed copy *and* a digital copy
- **Medication** — carry enough for the whole trip *plus a few extra days*
- Any **prescription letters** from your doctor

Lists and emphasis together cover the majority of everyday formatting needs. The next workflow introduces thematic breaks — a single line that divides sections cleanly, and one that will become important if you ever want to turn your writing into a slide presentation.