--- includes/theme.inc
+++ includes/theme.inc
@@ -1901,7 +1901,7 @@ function theme_mark($variables) {
  *     nested list. All other elements are treated as attributes of the list
  *     item element.
  *   - title: The title of the list.
- *   - type: The type of list to return (e.g. "ul", "ol").
+ *   - type: The type of list to return (e.g. "ul", "ol", "dl").
  *   - attributes: The attributes applied to the list element.
  *
  * @return
@@ -1924,6 +1924,7 @@ function theme_item_list($variables) {
     foreach ($items as $i => $item) {
       $attributes = array();
       $children = array();
+      $li_type = 'li';
       if (is_array($item)) {
         foreach ($item as $key => $value) {
           if ($key == 'data') {
@@ -1932,6 +1933,10 @@ function theme_item_list($variables) {
           elseif ($key == 'children') {
             $children = $value;
           }
+          elseif ($key == 'term') {
+            $data = $value;
+            $li_type = 'dt';
+          }
           else {
             $attributes[$key] = $value;
           }
@@ -1949,7 +1954,10 @@ function theme_item_list($variables) {
       if ($i == $num_items - 1) {
         $attributes['class'][] = 'last';
       }
-      $output .= '<li' . drupal_attributes($attributes) . '>' . $data . "</li>\n";
+      if ($type == 'dl' && $li_type == 'li') {
+        $li_type = 'dd';
+      }
+      $output .= '<' . $li_type . drupal_attributes($attributes) . '>' . $data . "</$li_type>\n";
     }
     $output .= "</$type>";
   }
--- modules/node/node.module
+++ modules/node/node.module
@@ -83,19 +83,19 @@ function node_help($path, $arg) {
       $output = '';
       $output .= '<h3>' . t('About') . '</h3>';
       $output .= '<p>' . t('The Node module manages the creation, editing, deletion, settings, and display of all site content. For more information, see the online handbook entry for <a href="@node">Node module</a>.', array('@node' => 'http://drupal.org/handbook/modules/node')) . '</p>';
-      $output .= '<h3>' . t('Uses') . '</h3>';
-      $output .= '<dl>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Creating content') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('When new content is created, the Node module records basic information about the content, including the author, date of creation, and the <a href="@content-type">Content type</a>. It also manages the <em>publishing options</em>, which define whether or not the content is published, promoted to the front page of the site, and/or sticky at the top of content lists. Default settings can be configured for each <a href="@content-type">type of content</a> on your site.', array('@content-type' => url('admin/structure/types'))) . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Creating custom content types') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('The Node module gives users with the <em>Administer content types</em> permission the ability to <a href="@content-new">create new content types</a> in addition to the default ones already configured. Creating custom content types allows you the flexibility to add <a href="@field">fields</a> and configure default settings that suit the differing needs of various site content.', array('@content-new' => url('admin/structure/types/add'), '@field' => url('admin/help/field'))) . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Administering content') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('The <a href="@content">Content administration page</a> allows you to review and bulk manage your site content.', array('@content' => url('admin/content'))) . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('Creating revisions') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('The Node module also enables you to create multiple versions of any content, and revert to older versions using the <em>Revision information</em> settings.') . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '<dt>' . t('User permissions') . '</dt>';
-      $output .= '<dd>' . t('The Node module makes a number of permissions available for each content type, which can be set by role on the <a href="@permissions">permissions page</a>.', array('@permissions' => url('admin/settings/permissions'))) . '</dd>';
-      $output .= '</dl>'; 
+      $items = array(
+        array('term' => t('Creating content')),
+        t('When new content is created, the Node module records basic information about the content, including the author, date of creation, and the <a href="@content-type">Content type</a>. It also manages the <em>publishing options</em>, which define whether or not the content is published, promoted to the front page of the site, and/or sticky at the top of content lists. Default settings can be configured for each <a href="@content-type">type of content</a> on your site.', array('@content-type' => url('admin/structure/types'))),
+        array('term' => t('Creating custom content types')),
+        t('The Node module gives users with the <em>Administer content types</em> permission the ability to <a href="@content-new">create new content types</a> in addition to the default ones already configured. Creating custom content types allows you the flexibility to add <a href="@field">fields</a> and configure default settings that suit the differing needs of various site content.', array('@content-new' => url('admin/structure/types/add'), '@field' => url('admin/help/field'))),
+        array('term' => t('Administering content')),
+        t('The <a href="@content">Content administration page</a> allows you to review and bulk manage your site content.', array('@content' => url('admin/content'))),
+        array('term' => t('Creating revisions')),
+        t('The Node module also enables you to create multiple versions of any content, and revert to older versions using the <em>Revision information</em> settings.'),
+        array('term' => t('User permissions')),
+        t('The Node module makes a number of permissions available for each content type, which can be set by role on the <a href="@permissions">permissions page</a>.', array('@permissions' => url('admin/settings/permissions'))),
+      );
+      $output .= theme('item_list', array('items' => $items, 'title' => t('Uses'), 'type' =>'dl'));
       return $output;
 
     case 'admin/content':