\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{paralist}
\begin{document}
\begin{inparaenum}[\em a)]
\item first thing and
\item second thing.
\end{inparaenum}

\pointedenum
\begin{inparaenum}
\item first thing and
\item second thing.
\end{inparaenum}

\pointlessenum
\begin{inparaenum}
\item first thing and
\item second thing.
\end{inparaenum}

\begin{itemize}
\item one
\item two
\item three
\end{itemize}

\begin{enumerate}
\item one
\item two
\item three
\end{enumerate}

\begin{itemize}[$\star$]
\item one
\item two
\begin{itemize}
\item one
\item two
\end{itemize}
\item three
\end{itemize}

\begin{enumerate}[\bf -a-]
\item one
\item two
\begin{enumerate}
\item one
\item two
\end{enumerate}
\item three
\end{enumerate}

\begin{description}
\item[do] a deer, a female deer
\item[re] a pocket full of sun
\end{description}

\def\descriptionlabel#1{\em$\lbrace$#1$\rbrace$\space}
\begin{description}
\item[do] a deer, a female deer
\item[re] a pocket full of sun
\end{description}


\begin{description}
\item a deer, a female deer
\item a pocket full of sun
\end{description}

\begin{enumerate}[\bf -a-]
\item one
\item[whoop] two
\item three
\end{enumerate}

\end{document}