Troubleshoot bulleted and numbered lists

I can't select a bullet or number character.

The automatic numbers and bullets added by Microsoft PowerPoint cannot be selected. To change the style of bullets or numbers, select the text that follows the bullet or number. Then, on the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering, and select options on the Bulleted or Numbered tab.

Bullets or numbers overlap each other or the text.

Bullets and numbers can be sized relative to the text they are attached to. If you increase the size of bullets or numbering to more than 100 percent of the size of the text, the bullets or numbers might either overlap or appear too close to the text.

• To reduce the size of the bullets or numbers, try the following: 

  1. To reduce the size of the bullets or numbers, select the text or placeholder whose bullet/number you want to change.
  2. On the Format menu, click Bullets and Numbering.
  3. On the appropriate tab, change the number in the Size box.
• To increase the horizontal spacing between the bullets or numbers and the text, do this: 
  1. On the View menu, click Ruler. 
  2. On the slide, select the level of text for which you want to change the bullet or number indent. 
  3. To change the indent of the bullet or number, drag the first-line indent marker (the one on the top level of the ruler). To change the indent of the text, drag the pointed part of the left indent marker (the one on the bottom).

I want to use an asterisk before a word, but Microsoft PowerPoint converts it to a bullet.

Turn off automatic bulleted and numbered lists.

• On the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect Options, and on the AutoFormat As You Type tab, clear the Automatic bulleted and numbered lists check box.