Correctly marking up multiple nested lists within the same list item

Question

In a GitHub .md file, I'm trying to write the equivalent of:

<ul>
  <li>This is a list item</li>
  
  <li>This is also a list item
  
    <ul>
      <li>...containing a sublist</li>
      <li>with two items.</li>
    </ul>
    
    and then...
    
    <ul>
      <li>another sublist</li>
      <li>which also has two items</li>
    </ul>
  </li>
  
  <li>This is a third list item</li>
</ul>

I've tried numerous variations on:

 - This is a list item
 - This is also a list item
   - ...containing a sublist
   - with two items.
 
   and then...
 
   - another sublist
   - which also has two items
  - This is a third list item

but I've not yet found how to successfully nest multiple separate unordered lists within a single unordered list item.

How should I mark up the line and then... so that it (and every line after) renders correctly in GitHub-flavored markdown?

Answer 1

You can use fake bullet lists to achieve this. You can build them up using non-breaking spaces and a ⦁ (Z NOTATION SPOT) character.

 - This is a list item
 - This is also a list item  
   ⦁  ...containing a sublist  
   ⦁  with two items.
 
   and then...
 
   ⦁  another sublist  
   ⦁  which also has two items
 - This is a third list item

Result:

• This is a list item

• This is also a list item
  ⦁ ...containing a sublist
  ⦁ with two items.

  and then...

  ⦁ another sublist
  ⦁ which also has two items

• This is a third list item