Description lists

A final type of list that you can use is the description list. This gives a list with highlighted (emboldened) initial elements of each member of the list:

pistol

-- A handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel;

revolver

-- A handgun with a cylinder of several chambers brought successively into line with the barrel and discharged with the same hammer;

rifle

-- A shoulder weapon with a spirally grooved bore.

If there is much material to put in a description list, prefer a subdivision into smaller sections (i.e. the next smaller subdivision).

How to construct a description list

Here is how to achieve this. Substitute description for itemize in the basic bullet list command. The element you wish to highlight is placed immediately after \item, between square brackets:

\begin{description}
\item[pistol] --- A handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel;
\item[revolver] --- A handgun with a cylinder of several
chambers brought successively into line with the
barrel and discharged with the same hammer;
\item[rifle] --- A shoulder weapon with a spirally grooved bore.
\end{description}