- Each char-table has a @dfn{subtype} which is a symbol. The subtype
-has two purposes: to distinguish char-tables meant for different uses,
-and to control the number of extra slots. For example, display tables
-are char-tables with @code{display-table} as the subtype, and syntax
-tables are char-tables with @code{syntax-table} as the subtype. A valid
-subtype must have a @code{char-table-extra-slots} property which is an
-integer between 0 and 10. This integer specifies the number of
-@dfn{extra slots} in the char-table.
+ Each char-table has a @dfn{subtype}, a symbol, which serves two
+purposes:
+
+@itemize @bullet
+@item
+The subtype provides an easy way to tell what the char-table is for.
+For instance, display tables are char-tables with @code{display-table}
+as the subtype, and syntax tables are char-tables with
+@code{syntax-table} as the subtype. The subtype can be queried using
+the function @code{char-table-subtype}, described below.
+
+@item
+The subtype controls the number of @dfn{extra slots} in the
+char-table. This number is specified by the subtype's
+@code{char-table-extra-slots} symbol property, which should be an
+integer between 0 and 10. If the subtype has no such symbol property,
+the char-table has no extra slots. @xref{Property Lists}, for
+information about symbol properties.
+@end itemize