How to Fix Command+Shift+L Bullet Formatting in Word for Mac
Question details
The user needs to correct the bullet point formatting applied by the default keyboard shortcut in Word for Mac to match standard bullet formatting.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Applying bullet points to text using the Command+Shift+L keyboard shortcut during document creation.
- Observed behavior
- Pressing Command+Shift+L inserts an asterisk with different indentation instead of the standard bullet formatting applied when clicking the Bullets button.
Ensure you have a sample text block ready in your document to test and visually verify the new bullet point indentation settings before applying them to your entire document.
Customize and Apply a New Bulleted List Style
Define a custom bullet style to ensure consistent indentation and formatting instead of relying on unpredictable default shortcut behaviors.
Word for Mac does not always apply the most recently used bullet format predictably when using shortcuts. Setting up a customized bullet style gives you complete control over text position and bullet type.
Highlight the text you want to format, navigate to the Home tab on the ribbon, and click the drop-down arrow next to the Bullets button.
Select 'Define New Bullet' from the drop-down menu, then choose 'Customize Bulleted List'.
In the customization window, modify the 'Bullet Position' and 'Text Position' values to match your preferred indentation, then click OK to apply the customized bulleted style to your text.
Create Perfectly Aligned Bullet Lists Effortlessly with WPS Writer
Avoid frustrating formatting glitches and easily customize bullet points, indentation, and list styles using WPS Writer. It offers a smooth user experience and is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents.
- 1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open your .docx file to begin editing.
- 2. Access the Bullets tool: Highlight your target text, navigate to the 'Home' tab, and locate the 'Bullets' icon in the toolbar.
- 3. Customize bullet formatting: Click the drop-down arrow beside the Bullets icon to select predefined list styles, or click 'More Bullets' to easily adjust alignment and indentation perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Command+Shift+L insert an asterisk instead of a bullet in Word for Mac?
Word for Mac often maps the Command+Shift+L shortcut to a legacy default list style that uses asterisks and older indentation rules. Customizing a specific bullet style overrides this unpredictable default behavior.
Can I change the default keyboard shortcut for bullets in Word for Mac?
Yes, you can customize keyboard shortcuts by navigating to Tools > Customize Keyboard from the top menu bar, selecting 'All Commands' under categories, finding the 'FormatBulletDefault' command, and assigning a new preferred shortcut combination.
How do I fix bullet points that are indented too far from the text?
Right-click your active bulleted list, select 'Adjust List Indents' from the context menu, and modify the 'Bullet position' and 'Text indent' numerical values to pull the text closer to the bullet symbol.
