Treatment of figures and tables

Naming and numbering
Notes to figures and tables
Appearance of figures and tables
Placement of figures and tables

Some assignments may require the inclusion of figures and/or tables to support or enhance the text. Note that the term 'figure' should be used for all graphs, pictures, charts, photographs, drawings, maps and diagrams throughout the work.

Naming and numbering

Each figure and table should be numbered consecutively and have a descriptive title. Figures sometimes also require a 'legend' to identify such things as scale, direction of view or orientation.

Titles of figures should be positioned below the relevant figure, and titles of tables should be positioned above the relevant table.

Notes to figures and tables

Some figures or tables may need notes in order to provide one or more of the following:

Specific information on a particular item in the figure or table
General information on the figure or table as a whole
Source information, if the figure or table has been copied/adapted from another source

Notes should be placed directly below the figure or table.

Appearance of figures and tables

Whether you are creating a figure or table, or reproducing or adapting it from another source, make sure it is presented in such a way that it can be easily viewed or read.

Graphs should have all axes clearly marked, and tables should have descriptive column headings.
Type size can be different from the body text, but do not use anything smaller than 8 pt or larger than 14 pt.
Correct alignment of data within table columns will depend on the type of data and any specific requirements, but, generally, the following advice applies:
Whole numbers should be right-aligned.
Decimals should be aligned to decimal points.
Text within columns should be left-aligned.

Placement of figures and tables

Figures and tables should be inserted into the text as close as possible to the paragraph where they are first discussed. Figures and tables should not extend outside the page margins, and they should not break over two pages if they are less than one page in total. (It is better to leave a gap at the bottom of a page and carry the figure or table over to the next page, than to split it over two pages.)