How to stop auto numbered list.

I'm making a sign for someone and the naming convention is first initial last name. For example John Smith would be written J. Smith. The problem is that whenever someone's name begins with an A and I write "A. Name" it changes the formatting to a numbered list which has a larger space between the initial and last name. 

When I turn off numbered list, the "A." disappears. What can I do to turn this off?