LISTS

Horizontal List or Run-on
• Enclose Arabic numerals in parentheses to delineate the items in the list.
• Preferred style is to used commas at the end of each item in the horizontal list.
• Use semicolons instead of commas if an item contains internal commas.
• Do not capitalize items separated by commas or semicolons.

Her past history includes (1) diabetes mellitus, (2) cholecystitis, and (3) hiatal hernia.
Her past history includes (1) diabetes mellitus, which is controlled with oral agents; (2) cholecystitis, resolved; and (3) hiatal hernia.

• Other style choice is to use a capital letter to start each item in the list and use a period at the end of each item.
Her past history includes (1) Diabetes mellitus. (2) Cholecystitis. (3) Hiatal hernia.

• Colon may be used in place of the verb to introduce either type of list.
Past history: (1) diabetes mellitus, (2) cholecystitis, (3) hiatal hernia.
Past history: (1) Diabetes mellitus. (2) Cholecystitis. (3) Hiatal hernia.

Vertical list or Displayed
• Used block style, with all entries aligned at the left margin.
• If numbered, follow each Arabic numeral by a period and then one character space; do not place numbers in parentheses.
• Capitalize the 1st letter of each entry, whether or not numbered (but it is preferable to number the items if there is more than one).
• Place a period at the end of each entry in the list.
e.g.
1. Diabetes mellitus.
2. Cholecystitis.
3. Hiatal hernia.
FINAL DIAGNOSES
Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Gastroenteritis.

• If entries in the list are names or dates, no period is used.
SURGEONS
Mabel Smith, MD
Harry Jones, MD

Hanging indentation
• Alternative form for displayed lists.
• Work best with display lists that are presented in sentence form.
• used Arabic numerals. Begin the 1st line of each item (the number) at the left margin and indent subsequent lines.
e.g.
ASSESSMENT AND PLAN
1. Hypertension. Blood pressures continue to run high. Will start the patient on Lotensin 20 mg p.o. daily, which may be increased to 40 mg next month if her numbers do not come down.
2. Diabetes. Continue the glyburide, which the patient is currently taking twice a day in a divided doses. May consider reducing this if blood sugars stay within normal or if hypoglycemia becomes a problem. Continue the Actos begun last month.
3. Return in 4 weeks for followup. Patient instructed in recording blood pressure readings. She will also monitor her blood glucose twice a day.