4) Assign tables and figures their respective numbers on the basis of the order in which you first
mention them in the text. The first table you mentioned is Table 1, the second is Table 2, etc. The
same applies for the figures.
5) Tables and figures can either follow as closely as possible the actual page on which the table
or figure is mentioned in the text or be included on individual pages following Literature Cited.
Ask your instructor for their preference.
6) All tables must have headers and figures must have self-explanatory captions. The rules for
composing the headers and captions are the same as for composing the title of the paper. The
reader should be able to look at a table or figure and by reading the caption know exactly what
was done in that part of the experiment without having to read the text for an explanation. If
appropriate, the sample size should also be included.
7) All tables and figures should include the units of measurement used (grams (g), meters (m),
seconds (s), etc.). Otherwise the data are meaningless. All columns in a table and both axes (X
axis and Y axis) of a graph must be independently labeled including units. Units are usually
included parenthetically in axes labels. For instance, an appropriate axis label may be: Time
(min).
8) Headers for tables are always placed above the table, and captions for figures are always
placed below the figure.