# How can I make an enumerate list start at something other than 1?

Sometimes, I want to have enumerate lists in LaTeX start at other than the first value (1, a, i, etc.) How can I make an enumerate list start at an arbitrary value?

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You can change the counter named enumi, like this:

\begin{enumerate}
\setcounter{enumi}{4}
\item fifth element
\end{enumerate}


(If you have lists at deeper levels of nesting, the relevant counters are enumii, enumiii and enumiv.)

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The enumitem package provides a simple solution to very many common problems that are related to minor tweaks of enumerate/itemize/description. In this case, you can use the start parameter. Also have a look at the resume parameter.

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I would just like to make explicit that the "resume" parameter causes the counter to continue from the previous "enumerate" environment. –  Austin Mohr Jan 9 '14 at 5:37

If you only want to alter the starting value, the easiest way is:

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}

\item This item is numbered 42.'
\begin{enumerate}\addtocounter{enumii}{5}% This cannot be more than 25
\item This one is numbered'' (f)'
\end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}

\end{document}


While you can have six layers of nested list environments (itemize, description, enumerate), you can have no more than 4 of one type. The counters enumi through enumiv control the index of each item's label. You can increment (as shown) or decrement (add a negative value) all 4 levels.

Note, though, that this won't be entirely arbitrary. Levels enumerated alphabetically cannot have items after an item labeled 'z.' (You could, however, add a negative amount to the appropriate counter to get it back to the a' label.)

(Now that I see the other answer, I wonder why I always opt for the relative \addtocounter rather than the absolute \settocounter?)

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\addtocounter` is safer in that it ensures monotonicity when used mid-list. –  equaeghe Mar 19 '14 at 10:22