{"id":3522,"date":"2025-10-22T11:23:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T18:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wsu.edu\/digital-accessibility\/?page_id=3522"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:51:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T22:51:43","slug":"lists-and-accessibility","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wsu.edu\/digital-accessibility\/core-concepts\/lists\/lists-and-accessibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Lists and Accessibility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This web page is intentionally created with accessibility errors to demonstrate the functionality of automatic accessibility checkers for web pages. View this webpage in an accessibility checker (WAVE)<\/a> to help identify accessibility issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A numbered list is also referred to as an ordered list. A bulleted list is also referred to as an unordered list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Error Types<\/strong>: Errors must<\/strong> be fixed. Alerts should<\/strong> be fixed. These fixes, both errors and alerts, improve the accessibility and usability of the content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Practice<\/strong>: Using the appropriate tool to create lists. Lists also help people scan the content easily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assistive technology<\/strong>: Lists are identified by assistive technology, the number of items within them, and provide a way to navigate through them. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Fake Lists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to use the appropriate formatting tools to create lists. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Fake Numbered (Ordered) List<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. This list<\/p>\n

2. Is Fake<\/p>\n

3. Created by just adding<\/p>\n

4. Numbers in front.<\/p>\n

5. Many editors will automatically convert to a numbered list when you start typing a number and period.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n

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Fake Bulleted (Unordered) List<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

* Another fake list<\/p>\n

– An asterick or dash might be<\/em> flagged by accessibility checkers <\/p>\n

\u2219 Other forms of bullets (\u2219bullet, \u00b7middot, and \u25a0 blacksquare)<\/p>\n

\u2219 Will not be flagged by accessibilty checkers<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Error Type<\/strong>: Alert<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Practice<\/strong>: Use the appropriate formatting tool to create lists. <\/p>\n\n <\/section>\n\n

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Nested Lists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Use appropriate formatting tools (indent and outdent) to create nested lists. Accessibility checkers will show the nested items as lists, too.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Nested Numbered (Ordered) List<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  1. Use the appropriate application tool for lists.
    1. Select the bullet (unordered) or numbered (ordered) list icon from the toolbar.<\/li><\/ol><\/li>
    2. Create the list.
      1. Select Enter to start a new item in the list.<\/li>
      2. Use the indent and outdent icons to properly nest items.<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n
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        Nested Bulleted (Unordered) List<\/h3>\n\n\n\n