Markdown Syntax · Lists

How to Make a List in Markdown:
Bullets, numbers, nesting, and checkboxes

A list in Markdown is a marker plus a space at the start of each line: a dash for bullets, a number and a period for an ordered list. Indent to nest, and add brackets for a checklist.

AI answers lean on lists constantly, so you'll read and edit plenty of them. This article covers bulleted, numbered, nested, and task lists, and the small mistakes that stop a list from rendering.

New to the syntax overall? Start with How to Write Markdown.

The four kinds of list

Type Syntax Note
Unordered (bullets) A dash and a space: - item Asterisk (*) or plus (+) also work; stay consistent
Ordered (numbers) A number, period, space: 1. item Numbers auto-renumber; 1. 1. 1. still shows 1, 2, 3
Nested Indent the child under the parent Keep the indent width consistent
Task list (checkboxes) - [ ] to-do and - [x] done A GFM extension; renders as checkboxes

All together:

Unordered (a dash and a space):
- First item
- Second item
  - A nested item (indented)

Ordered (a number, period, and space):
1. First
2. Second

Task list (GFM checkboxes):
- [ ] Something to do
- [x] Something done

Bullets vs numbers vs nesting

  • Bullets: a dash and a space. Use * or + if you prefer, just don't switch markers mid-list.
  • Numbers: a number, a period, a space. The digits don't have to be sequential; the renderer renumbers, so 1. on every line is fine.
  • Nesting: indent the child items under their parent, and keep the indent width the same throughout; inconsistent indentation is the usual reason a nested list looks off.

Task lists (checkboxes)

Add brackets after the bullet marker: - [ ] for an unchecked item, - [x] for a checked one. This is a GitHub-Flavored Markdown extension and renders as checkboxes wherever GFM is supported, handy for to-do notes. For the static-vs-clickable difference and checkboxes you can actually tick and save back to the file, see Markdown checkboxes.

Why your Markdown list isn't rendering

Symptom What happened Fix
List showed as plain text No space after the marker (-item) Add the space: - item
Nesting looks wrong Inconsistent indentation on child items Use the same indent width throughout the list
List ran into a paragraph No blank line before the list Leave a blank line between the paragraph and the list
Numbers not renumbering Renderer differences The 1. format matters, not the digits, but check your renderer if it won't renumber

The number-one cause: a missing space after the marker. It's - item, never -item, and the same goes for 1. item.

Reading and writing lists with NoteLoom

NoteLoom is an editor that reads and writes local .md files right in the browser. Reading view and Edit mode render bulleted, numbered, nested, and task lists, so you see the structure instead of counting dashes, and you write or fix them in Source mode, saved straight back to your local file.

The content is yours. NoteLoom opens, displays, and saves your Markdown.

How you use it: open app.noteloom.cc in Chrome / Edge / Arc, mount a local folder, then open a .md and write your lists in Source mode while watching them in Edit mode. Everything saves back to your disk, no cloud, no account.

Related reading

Markdown checkboxes you can tick The dedicated guide: clickable task-list checkboxes that save back to the .md.
How to Write Markdown? Headings, lists, links, code: the basic syntax every beginner needs.
How do you write Markdown tables? Table syntax, alignment, and breaks inside cells.
Why aren't my Markdown line breaks working? The classic "why doesn't it render" Markdown gotcha.
How do you add a link in Markdown? Inline, relative, and reference-style links.
Online Markdown Editor Read and write local md files in your browser, lists and all.
Markdown viewer Open a local .md folder and read it rendered, no install.

FAQ

How do I make a bulleted list in Markdown?
Start each line with a dash and a space: - item. Asterisks (*) and plus signs (+) work too; pick one and stay consistent. The space after the marker is required; -item without a space won't render as a list.
How do I make a numbered list?
Start each line with a number, a period, and a space: 1. item. The actual numbers don't have to be right, because most renderers renumber automatically, so you can write 1. 1. 1. and still get 1, 2, 3. Just keep the period-and-space format.
How do I nest a list?
Indent the child items under their parent, commonly two spaces (some renderers want the child aligned under the parent's text). Keep the indentation consistent within a list; mixing widths is the usual reason nesting looks wrong.
How do I make a checklist / task list?
Use the GFM task-list syntax: - [ ] for an unchecked item and - [x] for a checked one. It renders as checkboxes in tools that support GitHub-Flavored Markdown. NoteLoom supports GFM, so task lists render there.
Why isn't my Markdown list rendering?
Most often: no space after the marker (write - item, not -item); inconsistent indentation on nested items; or a missing blank line before the list starts (some renderers need one between a paragraph and a list). Check those three.
Can NoteLoom help with lists?
NoteLoom opens your local .md and renders bulleted, numbered, nested, and task lists in Reading view and Edit mode, so you can see the structure instead of counting dashes, and you write or fix them in Source mode. It won't generate the list content, just display and save your Markdown locally.
Which browsers can I use NoteLoom in?
NoteLoom relies on the browser's File System Access API, which works in Chromium-based desktop browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Arc.

Test List Indentation and Multi-Level Nesting

Open NoteLoom in Chrome or Edge and watch ordered and bulleted lists align cleanly. Fix nested indentation issues in real time with changes saved to disk.

Test Lists in Browser →

Published · Updated