Table Formatting Rules
According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, tables “show numerical values…arranged in an orderly display of columns and rows.”
Note: remember that tables are always characterized by a row-column structure, while figures constitute any other type of graphic representation of data.
Primary elements of a table:
- Table Number
- Table Title
- Table Body: contains the primary data in a table. The table body includes columns and headers.
- Column Heads: the heading(s) that identify the contents of each column in the body of the table.
- Subhead: the heading which identifies the content / entries of the left-most column.
- Stub Column: the left-most column of a table.
- Table Notes: the information (located below the table) which provide explanations of table contents, definitions of abbreviations, etc.
General Rules for Tables:
- Every table must have a title.
- The title of all tables should be brief and clear.
- Use headings to establish the organizations of a table and identify the columns of data beneath them.
- Every column in a table must have a heading.
- Headings should be brief and clear; try not to make a heading wider than the column that it tops.
- Any data that would take up two or fewer columns in a table does not merit a table, the information should be presented in the text.
Checklist
Keep these questions in mind as you add tables to your paper to make sure you are following the APA guidelines:
- Is the table necessary?
- Are all comparable tables in the manuscript consistent in presentation? (E.g. single or double-spaced, font size, etc.)
- Is the title brief but explanatory?
- Does every column have a column head?
- Are all abbreviations explained, as well as special use of italics, parentheses, dashes, boldface, and special symbols?
- If all or part of a copyrighted table is reproduced or adapted, do the table notes provide a full and proper citation?
- Is the table referred to in the text?