Lists

Lists, in the majority of stylebooks, begin with an introductory sentence.
In AP Style, a fragment can also introduce a list.

Capitalize the first letter of each word in a list.
Non-AP stylebooks permit the use of lowercase letters as long as none of the items are sentences.

Let us look at some of the finely tuned features that make life possible on this planet:

• · If the temperature that resulted from the initial big bang at the beginning of the universe were a trillionth of a degree colder or hotter, the carbon molecule, which is the foundation of all life, would never have developed.
• · If the cosmic rays existing at the beginning of the universe were slightly different (different angle, time, or intensity), the hemoglobin molecule, necessary for human life, could never have evolved.
• · If the universe's age were older than it is, no stable burning star-types in the right part of the galaxy would be around. If the universe were younger, there would be no stars. In both cases, there would be no life.
• · If the expansion rate of the universe were larger, there would be no galaxies. If smaller, the universe would have collapsed.

He brought the following items to school:

• A pencil
• A pen
• An eraser

or

• a pencil
• a pen
• an eraser

AP style prefers dash style for lists (a dash followed by one space); however, bullet style is not excluded.
He brought to school the following:

- A pencil
- A pen
- An eraser

Be consistent: use the same punctuating mark at the end of each sentence in a list.  All within the list should be structurally consistent.

If numbers or letters are used, they are usually enclosed in parentheses or  ended with a period.

(1)      1.      A.      a.      (a)

(2)      2.      B.      b.      (b)

(3)      3.      C.      c.      (c)


In many stylebooks, if the list is treated as a sentence, then commas and semicolons can be used between the items, as long as the final punctuation mark is a period.

Doctors in training will be evaluated on

• their ability to master the medical equipment,
• their comprehension of medical diagnoses, and
• their ability to display bedside manners.

Doctors in training will be evaluated on

• their ability to master the medical equipment;
• their comprehension of medical diagnoses;
• their ability to display bedside manners.