Lists
1. Order elements to maximize performance (4:5)
Place list items in an order that will maximize user performance. There may be a necessary order (steps in a sequence), an order for reasons of usability (most popular choices first), or an inherent sort order (alphabetical or numeric). In no case should this order be arbitrary. Also, keep in mind the user's perspective rather than the designer's.
2. Place important items at the top of a list (4:4)
Users scan a list top to bottom, so it is recommended that "important' or "relevant" items should be placed closer to the top to save effort and expedite decision-making.
EN: how to assess importance/relevance is not explained, but my sense si that usability testing may help identify this.
3. Formal lists for ease of scanning (4:4)
Especially when a list contains multiple levels of submenu, formatting can help group items on a specific level of the hierarchy and make the list easier to scan.
4. Display related items in a vertical list (4:4)
Vertical lists (items appear one on top of the next) are easier for users to scan than horizontal lists (items appear side by side) or text enumerations (items are presented in the context of a sentence or paragraph, like this one contrasting three kinds of lists).
5. Introduce each list (3:4)
Providing a descriptive heading (even a few words) helps users understand why a list is provided and how the items are related, and this understanding improves speed of use.
6. Use static menus (3:3)
While it is possible to us a adaptive menus (which assess users' choices and move the most popular items to the top of the list in real time), it is better to use a static menu (in which items remain in the same order) in order to accommodate memory.
7. Start numbered items at one (2:2)
When items are numbered, start with one rather than zero and count upward.
8. Use appropriate list style (2:4)
Bullets present items of equal status or value, numbers or letters suggest a specific sequence or ranking. Numbers are especially useful when presenting steps in a sequence (such as instructions) so that users may remember their place.
9. Capitalize the first letter of words in a list (1:2)
Unless there is a reason to use title case (the items in the list are page or manuscript titles, names, cities, etc.), capitalize only the first letter of the first word of each item in the list.