If you're writing out a list of things, consider using a bulleted (or, if there's a meaningful order, numbered) list. Why? When your audience is reading the list, the bulleted format will be easier to parse and easier to refer back to for key information. This is particularly true if the list includes numbers or technical phrases. However, if you must express a list of complex ideas, each of which requires a paragraph to fully explain, you're probably better off using a series of paragraphs with headings.

To make the most of your list, try to place the key, distinguishing element of each list item as close to the bullet as possible. If you can, make that key, distinguishing element the first word. Also, if you have a particularly long list, consider making your list into several smaller lists grouped by topic.

A simple example of a difficult paragraph rendered into an accessible bulleted list is:

When visiting the shop floor, we saw many violations of policy, including pallets left in the middle of the floor, workers not wearing hard hats, missing dorsal flanges, composite trusses left un-doped, piles of cash under many workbenches, and missing kit equipment, including the required two Phillips head screwdrivers, 11"x14" concrete spreader, and sonic screwdriver.

When visiting the shop floor, we saw many violations of policy, including:

• Pallets left in the middle of the floor
• Hard-hats not worn
• Dorsal flanges missing from their appointed location
• Composite trusses left un-doped
• Piles of cash under many workbenches

Required kit equipment observed missing included:

• Phillips-head screwdrivers (total 2)
• Concrete spreader (11" x 14")
• Sonic screwdriver