Be able to apply bullets including shape, alignment, line spacing and indent

14 Styles – Bullets, Alignment, Line Spacing, Indent, Font & Text Enhancements

Learning Objectives (What students will be able to do)

• Identify and apply the different bullet shapes and numbering schemes.
• Set paragraph alignment, line‑spacing, paragraph‑spacing and indents correctly.
• Choose appropriate font face, point size, colour and text enhancements (bold, italic, underline, etc.).
• Interpret and use a corporate house style to ensure consistency across documents.
• Follow step‑by‑step procedures for applying styles in Microsoft Word (Office 365) and Google Docs.
• Combine all style features to produce ICT‑specific documents (device inventories, database reports, newsletters).
• AO3 – Evaluate the impact of different style choices on readability, branding and audience needs.

Key Terminology

Style

A predefined set of formatting instructions (font, spacing, indent, bullet/numbering) that can be applied to text or paragraphs with a single click.

House style

A documented collection of formatting rules (fonts, colours, spacing, logo placement) that all documents in an organisation must follow.

First‑line indent

Only the first line of a paragraph is shifted inward.

Hanging indent

All lines except the first are shifted inward.

Block indent

The entire paragraph is shifted left or right.

Multi‑level list

A list that combines different bullet/numbering styles to show hierarchy (e.g., 1., a., i.).

1. Font Properties

2. Paragraph Properties

2.1 Alignment

• Left‑aligned – default for body text.
• Centre‑aligned – titles, headings, decorative lists.
• Right‑aligned – dates, page numbers, special effects.
• Justified – creates a clean block; used in formal reports.

2.2 Line Spacing

• Single – most compact; ideal for technical specifications.
• 1.5 lines – balances readability and space; common for mixed‑content documents.
• Double – required for essays or documents that need annotation space.

2.3 Paragraph Spacing (Before / After)

Controls the vertical blank space surrounding a paragraph.

2.4 Indents

• First‑line indent – e.g., 0.5 cm; used in narrative paragraphs.
• Hanging indent – e.g., 0.5 cm; ideal for bibliographies or IP‑address lists.
• Block indent – whole paragraph shifted; used for quotations or side‑bars.

3. Bullets & Numbering

• Bullet shapes: Disc (•), Circle (◦), Square (▪), Dash (–), Custom image.
• Numbered lists: 1., a., i., A., (1), (2) … – perfect for step‑by‑step procedures.
• Multi‑level lists: Combine bullet and number styles to show hierarchy (e.g., 1. Item → a. Sub‑item → • Detail).

Example – ICT Device Inventory

1. Routers
• Cisco ISR 4321 – IP: 192.168.1.1
• Juniper MX240 – IP: 192.168.1.2
2. Switches
• HP 2920 – IP: 192.168.2.10
• Dell N1524 – IP: 192.168.2.11

First‑level items are numbered; second‑level items use a disc bullet; device names are bold for emphasis.

4. Corporate House Style

A house style is a formal document that defines the visual identity of all organisational output.

• Approved font families and sizes (e.g., Arial 11 pt body, Arial 14 pt Bold headings).
• Corporate colour palette with hex codes (e.g., #003366 for headings, #555555 for body).
• Standard bullet and numbering conventions.
• Paragraph spacing, indent rules, and line‑spacing defaults.
• Logo placement, header/footer layout, and page‑numbering style.

Applying the house style guarantees brand consistency, improves readability and meets legal/marketing requirements.

5. Applying Styles – Step‑by‑Step Procedures

5.1 Microsoft Word (Office 365)

1. Place the cursor in the paragraph you wish to format.
2. Go to the Home tab → click the small arrow in the Styles group.
3. Select an existing style (e.g., Heading 2) or click New Style… to create a custom one.
4. In the New Style dialog set:

   • Style type: Paragraph (or Character for inline formatting).
   • Font: Arial, 12 pt, colour #003366.
   • Alignment: Centre.
   • Line spacing: 1.5 lines.
   • Spacing: 12 pt before, 6 pt after.
   • Indentation: Hanging 0.5 cm (if required).

5. Click Format → Numbering to add a bullet or number style, then OK.
6. Press Enter – the style will be applied automatically to subsequent paragraphs.

5.2 Google Docs

1. Select the text or paragraph to format.
2. Choose Format → Paragraph styles → Normal text (or any existing heading).
3. Manually apply the desired formatting (font, size, colour, spacing).
4. Click Update ‘Normal text’ to match – the new formatting becomes the style definition.
5. To create a custom style set, go to Format → Paragraph styles → Options → Save as my default styles.
6. Bullets: click the Bulleted list icon → More bullets** → choose a shape or upload a custom image.
7. Line spacing: Format → Line spacing** → select Single, 1.5, Double, or Custom.
8. Paragraph spacing: Format → Paragraph spacing** → set before/after values.
9. Indentation: drag the left‑indent marker on the ruler or use Format → Align & indent → Indentation options**.

6. Interactions Between Features

• Line spacing + Indent: Wider line spacing makes hierarchical indents more visually distinct.
• Bullet size vs. Font size: When a heading uses a larger font, choose a larger bullet (e.g., square) to keep visual balance.
• Paragraph spacing before headings: Prevents headings from “sticking” to the preceding paragraph, improving flow.
• House‑style overrides: If the corporate style specifies “no double spacing”, any manual double‑spacing must be removed before finalising.

7. Evaluation (AO3) – Making Informed Style Choices

When selecting a style, consider the following questions and record your justification in a brief note or checklist.

1. Audience needs: Is the document for senior managers, technical staff, or a public audience? Choose font size, colour contrast and bullet complexity accordingly.
2. Readability: Does the line spacing allow comfortable reading on screen or print? Would a hanging indent improve a bibliography?
3. Brand consistency: Does the chosen colour and bullet shape match the corporate palette? If not, note the deviation and reason.
4. Document purpose: For a quick reference sheet, single spacing and simple disc bullets may be best; for a formal report, justified alignment and 1.5‑line spacing are preferable.
5. Technical constraints: Some legacy systems (e.g., plain‑text email) may not support custom bullets – consider using simple hyphens instead.

8. Links to Other Syllabus Sections

• Section 13 – Layout: Styles determine how text wraps around images, tables and sidebars introduced in the layout stage.
• Section 17 – Document Production: Applying a house style is essential for producing professional newsletters, reports and user manuals.
• Section 9 – Audience Needs: Font size, colour contrast and bullet complexity must be chosen with the target audience in mind.

9. Summary of Styles – Quick Reference Table

10. Suggested Visual Aids for Teaching

• Flowchart – steps to create a new style in Word and Google Docs.
• Before/After screenshots – plain list vs. styled list (showing bullet shape, indent, line spacing).
• Colour‑palette swatch – corporate colours with hex codes.
• Sample page layout – short report demonstrating heading styles, body text, a bulleted device inventory, and a hanging‑indented bibliography entry.
• Evaluation checklist – the AO3 questions from section 7, printed for students to complete during practice tasks.