7 Ways To Write With Numbered Lists

February 19, 2008 · by Joanna Paterson · in

Writing with a numbered list helps you to connect with your reader: engaging attention, presenting ideas in bite-sized form, using the specificity of the number as a hook.

Prime numbers have a particular impact: they generate pattern, rhythm and movement. That’s why you see 3, 5 and 7 used so many times.

There’s something peculiarly satsifying about 7.  Muhammed Saleem had a good piece at Copyblogger a while back on 7 point lists – written from a social media perspective but also touching on the ‘magical’ power of 7.

You certainly can’t ignore its deep-rooted cultural significance: seven days, seven wonders of the world, seven deadly sins, seven ages of man, seven colours of the rainbow, seven seas, seven dwarfs…

Not everyone’s a fan of numbered lists of course, and there are downsides to using them. They can become formulaic, even boring after a while – for both your readers and your writing self. If you only ever write them out as numbered lists or bullet points your writing will take on a jerky, staccato feel which can break rapport.

Fortunately there are ways that you can use the power of the list without making it obvious that’s what you’re doing.

1. You can use numbers it as the frame for your work: intro, close and three paras in the middle. (A simple 5.)

2. You can use a numbered list to add headings as you structure and organise your work – then take them away when the writing’s done.

3. You can use numbers to generate a list of points (whether it’s 3, 5 or 7) then work them into a paragraph – or even a sentence – without the numbered list quality being in evidence at all.

One way to do this is to highlight a certain number of words. For example, make a start by brainstorming the topic you’re writing about, and generate a first draft of the text. Then go back into it and pick out a number of the most important words (7, 10, 12: you choose) – that might be powerful nouns or simple active verbs – and use them for emphasis, as headers, or to provide the structure for your article.

4. Use numbers to generate ideas, and answers to questions.

Take a question that’s been put to you and generate a set number of answers in response. (Seven is a good number to try, but you can take it right up to 100 if you want.)

Asking your mind (unconscious mind, muse, creative source, whatever you call it) for a specific number of answers will always generate more interesting results than if you just ask the question on its own.

5. Use numbers to organise

This is useful when you’ve got a lot of material to organise and don’t know where to start. Look over your material then ask yourself for 7 points (or another number of your choice, but 7 is good) that you can use to structure it. Then doodle different possibilities until the most useful headings come into view.

6. Repeat your points for emphasis

That might just be a question of repeating three points at the end: for emphasis, to close your piece, and offer a simple take-away.

7. Generate rhythm and a sense of completion

Writing this piece through the prism of seven helps to generate a sense of balance, structure, and rhythm. Using the prime numbers generates a satisfying sense of beginning, middle, and end – and offers an appropriate place to stop ;-)

I think I’m only scratching the surface as to how this works though so I’d love to hear your own perspective and experience:

  • What’s your reader perception of numbered lists – love them or hate them?
  • Do numbered lists help you to write?
  • If so, do you have a favourite number?