General Guidelines For Creating Original Tables and Figures
Use these guidelines to create your own original tables and figures. To cite a table or figure from another work, see the In-Text Citations section on Tables and Figures.
- Tables and figures follow the same structure.
- Tables and figures can be incorporated into the text after the first paragraph which it was mentioned or placed on individual pages at the end of the paper following the References and Footnotes sections.
- In-text, refer to every table and figure by its number. For example: ...as evident in Table 1 / Figure 4 highlights....
- Align all tables and figures with the left hand margin.
Tables
- In bold, left hand justified, label as Table #. For Example: Table 1
- One double spaced line below table number, in italics with all major words capitalized, include a title.
- All tables should include column headings as well as additional headings to clarify data.
- Use standard abbreviations and symbols for all statistics.
- Limit the use of borders, shading, or lines unless needed for clarity.
- If a table in longer than one page, repeat the column headings on the next page as the table continues.
- Include Notes below table if information needs to be clarified. This typically consists of general, specific, and probability clarifications. Italicize the word Note. Use regular font for the text of the note.
Figures
- In bold, left hand justified, label as Figure #. For Example: Figure 1
- One double spaced line below table number, in italics with all major words capitalized, include a title.
- Figure images can consist of charts, graphs, photographs, and illustrations.
- For charts and graphs, label the X and Y Axis.
- Include Notes below table if information needs to be clarified. This typically consists of general, specific, and probability clarifications. Italicize the word Note. Use regular font for the text of the note.
Examples
