Formatting Issues

How to Fix Italic Bulleted Lists and Adjust Indentation in Word

Nimra Malik Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent Word from automatically applying italic formatting to new bulleted lists and wants to customize default bullet and paragraph indentation.

How to Fix Italic Bulleted Lists and Adjust Indentation in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating or editing bulleted lists in a document where previous list formatting bleeds into new items, or default indents do not align properly.
Observed behavior: New bulleted items unexpectedly become italicized due to AutoFormat settings, and the default list indentation requires manual adjustment.

Before you start

Ensure you have your document open and identify whether the italicization is happening to a single list or across multiple different lists in the file.

Solution 1Recommended

Turn Off AutoFormat for List Items

Prevent Word from copying the italic format of the previous list item by adjusting your AutoCorrect options.

Microsoft Word's 'AutoFormat As You Type' feature is designed to anticipate your formatting needs. However, if the text right before your list was italicized, Word might automatically carry that over. Disabling this specific setting restores manual control over your list formatting.

Open Word Options

Click on the File tab in the top-left corner and select Options at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to AutoCorrect

Select Proofing from the left-hand menu, then click the AutoCorrect Options button.

Disable List AutoFormatting

Go to the AutoFormat As You Type tab. Clear the check box that says 'Format beginning of list item like the one before it'.

Apply Changes

Click OK on both dialog boxes to save your preferences and return to your document.

Format Saved: New bulleted lists will no longer automatically inherit italic formatting from preceding items.

Solution 2

Apply and Modify the List Bullet Style

Use dedicated paragraph styles instead of default ribbon buttons for better control over font formatting and indents.

Effortless Document Formatting

Manage Bulleted Lists and Formatting Easily in WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides intuitive tools to manage list styles, quickly adjust indentations, and prevent unwanted formatting changes, offering a highly compatible and smooth document editing experience.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the list you want to format.
2. Remove Unwanted Italics: Highlight the affected list items, navigate to the Home tab, and click the Italic icon (or press Ctrl+I) to clear the formatting.
3. Access Bullets and Numbering: Right-click the selected list and choose 'Bullets and Numbering' from the context menu.
4. Customize Indents: Select your preferred bullet style, click 'Customize', adjust the bullet position and text indent spacing, and click OK.

Easily customize bullet points, numbering styles, and line spacingFully compatible with Microsoft Word .docx formats and stylingIntuitive drag-and-drop ruler interface for adjusting paragraph indentationLightweight software that runs smoothly on almost any device

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my bullet points keep turning italic automatically?

Word's 'AutoFormat As You Type' feature tries to predict your formatting. If the previous list item or the word just before the bullet was italicized, Word may automatically apply italics to the new bullet item. Disabling the 'Format beginning of list item like the one before it' setting stops this behavior.

How can I change the space between the bullet and the text?

Right-click on the actual bullet point symbol in your list and select 'Adjust List Indents'. From there, you can change the 'Text indent' value to either increase or decrease the space between the bullet character and your text.

What is the keyboard shortcut to create a standard bulleted list?

You can quickly apply the default 'List Bullet' style to selected paragraphs by pressing Ctrl+Shift+L on your keyboard.

Does WPS Office handle bullet lists differently than Word?

WPS Writer handles bullet lists very similarly to Word to maintain high compatibility. You can still use the same shortcuts, right-click context menus, and ruler adjustments to fine-tune your list formatting and indentation.

Document & File Issues