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Lists

There are four different types of lists in LATEX. The following is an example containing all four.

Enumerate
will give you a numbered list.
1.
You can nest lists in LATEX
(a)
You can even sub-nest lists
(b)
and it changes how they are counted
2.
up to four levels deep
Itemize
produces a list with bullets

Description
is what you use when you want to describe a list of items. This list of list environments is an example of a description. Notice that it will make the items you are describing appear in bold faced type.

List
If you do not like any of these possibilities you can modify the list environment to create your own. See the LATEX manual for more information.

The following text was used to create the previous example. We have broken it up to add comments and explanations of some of the more obscure commands.

% The percent sign is the comment character in LaTeX.  LaTeX ignores
% everything on a line following a % character.
\begin{description}

% Notice the brackets and braces; {} are very different from [] in LaTeX

\item [Enumerate]  will give you a numbered list.

\begin{enumerate}                
\item You can nest lists in \LaTeX{} 
\begin{enumerate}
\item You can even sub-nest lists
\item and it changes how they are counted
\end{enumerate}
\item up to four levels deep
\end{enumerate}

\item [Itemize] produces a list with bullets

\begin{itemize}
\item Some people like bullets,
\item while others do not.
\end{itemize}

\item [Description] is what you use when you want to describe a
list of items.  This list of \verb+list+ environments is an example of
a \verb+description+.

\item [List] If you do not like any of these possibilities you can
modify the \verb+list+ environment to create your own.  See the 
\LaTeX{}  manual for more information.
\end{description}



Alex Rolfe
1999-10-29