Tables, Figures, Schemes, etc.

• Location in the text – When you insert a table, figure, or non-text item into the text, try to do so as close to the first in-text reference as possible, and at a natural break on the page (at the top or bottom of a page, between pages, or between paragraphs). In other words, as much as possible, body paragraph text should not be interrupted by an item. If a non-text item cannot fit on the same page where it is mentioned, then move it to the next page.
• Do not split the item, if possible – If a table or figure can feasibly fit onto a single page (to include its title and any notes), it should not be broken across two pages (some white space at the bottom of a page is acceptable to allow for this).
• Multiple-page items – Sometimes a non-text item simply cannot fit on a single page. When a table or figure continues over multiple pages, make sure that the title of the item appears on all pages of the item. On the subsequent pages, add the phrase “(continued)” to the end of the first sentence of the item title.
  • When a table must extend for multiple pages, the header row of the table should appear at the top of the table on all subsequent pages.
• Portrait vs landscape orientation – Tables, figures, and non-text items should appear in portrait orientation unless they are too large to fit within the required margins; then they can be converted to landscape orientation. However, the page numbers for such landscape items must appear in portrait orientation (on the landscape page, page numbers should appear in the left margin, centered vertically, and rotated 90 degrees). For an example of a landscaped figure, see Figure 3.
  • Note: If a table or figure appears in landscape orientation, only that table or figure (and its title/notes) may appear on the landscape-oriented page (in other words, headings or paragraph text should not appear on a landscape page).
• Numbering – All tables, figures, schemes, and non-text items must be labeled and numbered sequentially based on the type of item (such as “Table 1” and “Figure 1”). For example, you can have a “Table 1” and a “Figure 1”, but you cannot have two tables named “Table 1”.
  • There are two numbering scheme options. You can number the items sequentially according to the chapter in which they appear (such as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and so on). Alternatively, you can number the items in the order that they appear, regardless of chapter or section (such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on). Whichever option is chosen, it should be used in all item types (i.e., a disquisition should not contain both a Table 1 and a Figure 1.1).
• Titles – All tables, figures, schemes, and non-text items must have a label, number, and title (such as “Figure 1. Diagram of scientific method”) and must be included in the appropriate lists in the prefatory material. See the section on lists for how to format item titles within the appropriate list.
  • Long titles – When the title for a table, figure, scheme, or other non-text item is longer than one line, set it to be single spaced with a single blank line after, to help set it apart from the body text paragraphs.
• Font – The font used in the item titles must be same type as the rest of your disquisition.
  • In titles of tables, figures, schemes, etc., the font must be the same size and type as the text in the body paragraphs.
  • Within tables, the font must be the same type as the rest of your disquisition. The size can be adjusted as needed to fit the table onto the page.
  • Within figures, schemes, and other non-text items, the font may be different from the rest of your disquisition. However, the text must be easily readable at 100% view size/zoom.
• Formatting of item titles – The titles of tables and figures should follow the formatting rules for the style of your discipline. This includes capitalization (title case or sentence case), special formatting (like bold or italics), punctuation (after the item number and in the rest of the title), and location relative to the item being described (above or below). Note that the formatting must be consistent for all items of the same type throughout the disquisition. Refer to the style manual of your discipline for more information about how to format the titles of tables, figures, schemes, etc.
• Margins – Tables, figures, schemes, and non-text items must fit in the required 1 inch margins. Non-text items that are too wide to fit in the margins of the page in portrait orientation can be placed on their own page in landscape orientation. However, the page numbers must still appear in portrait orientation. (This requirement ensures that when your disquisition is printed, all the page numbers will appear consistently and correctly.)
• Spacing – Minimize the amount of blank space that appears before and after tables, figures, schemes, and other non-text elements. However, tables and figures and the titles for those items should be clearly distinguishable from the paragraph text. We recommend a single line of space between items and the body text or headings surrounding them.
• Citations – Academic honesty is essential in all disquisitions. If you use a table, figure, or non-text item that is not your original design, you must cite the original source of the item, and ensure the appropriate copyright permissions to use the item have been obtained (if necessary). You may use an in-text citation in the text of the title or caption of the item, or you may include the citation as a footnote under the item. Refer to the style manual of your discipline for more information about citations of non-text items.
  • If you have adapted the design of a figure or non-text item from another source’s original design, then you must include the citation of the original source in the title or caption of the image and ensure the appropriate permissions to use the item have been obtained (if necessary). You must also state that your figure or image has been adapted from the original source.

Tables may be extended across pages with the following requirements.

• Borders – The table must have a top and bottom border on all pages. If your table did not originally have a top and/or bottom border, one must be added.
• Headers – The header row must be continued on all pages, so the reader can see what data each column represents.
• Title – The table title must be continued on all pages, so your reader can identify it as being part of the same table.
  • The continued title should have the parenthetical "(continued)" added to the end of the first sentence of the title.
  • The continued titles should have the same table number. However, the table should only be listed once in the List of Tables, with the page number corresponding to the first page the table appears on.

Conversely, figures cannot be extended across pages, though if the figure is large enough to fill the entire page, you may continue its title or notes onto a subsequent page with the following requirements.

• On the page with the figure – The figure number and title of the figure must appear with the figure itself.
  • If the style manual of your discipline places the figure number and title below the figure, and if your figure title is more than one sentence, only the first sentence must be included.
• On the page after the figure – The figure number and title of the figure should be continued, so your reader can identify that the subsequent text is related to the preceding figure.
  • Repeat the figure number and title in full and add the parenthetical "(continued)" to the end of the first sentence of the title.
    • If your style manual places the figure number and title on separate lines, such as APA, you may elect to repeat the figure number, the figure title, or both on the same line. Do not repeat the figure number and title on separate lines.

Subfigures

If you have a large figure that fits onto a single page but is composed of subfigures, we recommend breaking them up into new, distinct figures rather than trying to fit them all onto a single page. Note that text within figures must be readable at 100% zoom.

If your large figure is composed of subfigures and these subfigures extend across multiple pages, you must break them up into new, distinct figures that can each at least fit onto a single page.

When you insert a table or figure into the text, do so as close to the first in-text reference as possible (but not before), and at a natural break on the page, such as the top or bottom of a page, between pages, or between paragraphs. As such, non-text items should not immediately follow after a heading, as the item would not have been referenced yet.

If you refer to an appendix item within the chapters, you do not need to reproduce that item in both the chapters and the appendix. For example, you may suggest that your reader look to an appendix table for additional insight into a key result without having to include that appendix table in your results section.