#Why list answers are provided

###People like lists This is an easy thing to understand, as far as formatting is concerned, lists provide an easy way to:

• Break up your sentence and paragraph structures
• Make explicit the point you're talking about
• Make additional points which might not be specifically related to the question
• Summarise points made

This makes your answers more clear, concise and easy to follow for the reader(s).

###Not every question is limited in scope You may have asked about one thing, but that one thing may have related topics. In fact, that thing you asked about may not necessarily have an answer, or a single answer. Someone may want to provide related discussions that help supplement the answer.

Take for example my answer here. The OP is asking 'who the current ruler of Dorne is', where in fact, there either isn't one, or there could be options depending on 'x, y and z'. So I've given a list of options.

There may be more than one reason for the same answer

Breaking up the answer into a list of either possibilities or explanations increases your ability to make the answer more easy to understand. Especially if there is more than one way to get at the same answer

#How you can limit responses that are 'lists' ###Be specific and narrow your scope Think about what it is that you're asking:

• Could there be more to it than you think?
• What might people's response to this be?
• What do I really want to know here?

When you know the answer to those questions, you will be able to be very specific about what you're asking ,and the intended answers you're expecting.

###Be explicit You may also add a clause or statement, either

• in a comment or
• in the body of your question itself

requesting that answers don't be provided in 'list' format. This can help reduce inflammation the likelyhood that someone posts a list answer.

Why list answers are provided

People like lists

This is an easy thing to understand, as far as formatting is concerned, lists provide an easy way to:

• Break up your sentence and paragraph structures
• Make explicit the point you're talking about
• Make additional points which might not be specifically related to the question
• Summarise points made

This makes your answers more clear, concise and easy to follow for the reader(s).

Not every question is limited in scope

You may have asked about one thing, but that one thing may have related topics. In fact, that thing you asked about may not necessarily have an answer, or a single answer. Someone may want to provide related discussions that help supplement the answer.

Take for example my answer here. The OP is asking 'who the current ruler of Dorne is', where in fact, there either isn't one, or there could be options depending on 'x, y and z'. So I've given a list of options.

There may be more than one reason for the same answer

Breaking up the answer into a list of either possibilities or explanations increases your ability to make the answer more easy to understand. Especially if there is more than one way to get at the same answer

How you can limit responses that are 'lists'

Be specific and narrow your scope

Think about what it is that you're asking:

• Could there be more to it than you think?
• What might people's response to this be?
• What do I really want to know here?

When you know the answer to those questions, you will be able to be very specific about what you're asking ,and the intended answers you're expecting.

Be explicit

You may also add a clause or statement, either

• in a comment or
• in the body of your question itself

requesting that answers don't be provided in 'list' format. This can help reduce inflammation the likelyhood that someone posts a list answer.