Do Figures Need Captions?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do figures need captions?

Every figure and table should have a caption

. Here are some tips on using captions: A figure caption is centered under the figure; a table caption is centered above the table (if a caption is more than one line, make it left justified). A Figure and its caption should appear on the same page.

Do figures need a title and a caption?


Figures should be labeled with a number followed by a descriptive caption or title

. Captions should be concise but comprehensive. They should describe the data shown, draw attention to important features contained within the figure, and may sometimes also include interpretations of the data.

Do all figures need titles?


Your figures must be appropriately titled

. All graphs, diagrams and images should be titled as Figures. These will be numbered consecutively throughout the dissertation: Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, and so on. After the numbering, there should be a short and concise title.

Where should captions go in a figure?

Should captions be above or below figures?

Captions. In written reports, titles are not used on figures or tables; instead, the information is placed in a caption. Captions for tables are placed above the table (typically left aligned), and captions for figures are placed

below the figure

.

How do you caption a figure?

  1. A figure caption is centered under the figure; a table caption is centered above the table (if a caption is more than one line, make it left justified).
  2. A Figure and its caption should appear on the same page.
  3. All captions should start with a capitalized word and end with a period.

How do you refer to figures in a paper?

When citing a table or a figure in text,

refer to it by its number

, such as “Table 3” or “Figure 2.” Do not refer to it by its position relative to the text (e.g., “the figure below”) or its page number (e.g., “the table on page 12”); these will change when your paper is typeset, assuming you are writing a draft …

How do you write a figure legend?

  1. Title: A brief title that applies to the entire figure, including all panels. …
  2. Materials and methods: A description of the techniques used. …
  3. Results: A statement of the results that can be gleaned from the particular figure. …
  4. Definitions: An explanation of features in the figure.

What should a list of figures look like?

Title this section in all capital letters as “LIST OF FIGURES”. List each new figure caption on a new line and capitalise the start of each word. Write the figure number on the left, then caption label and finally the page number the figure corresponds to on the right-hand side.

Do you bold figure titles?


Set off the word ‘Table’ or ‘Figure’ and the number that follows in bold but keep the rest in normal font (neither bold nor italics)

. No punctuation is required between the number and the title: space alone is enough.

What is figure legend?

A figure legend is

a chunk of text that accompanies each figure in a laboratory report

. Its purpose is to explain the figure clearly and thoroughly, providing readers with all the information necessary to understand the figure without returning to the main text of the lab report.

How do you write a figure caption in biology?

  1. each figure is sequentially numbered and “Figure” is written out in full to start the caption e.g. “Figure 2. …
  2. the caption should include enough information to be interpreted without reading the text of the report (a proper caption allows you to display your work elsewhere, e.g. a poster or presentation)

Are figure captions italicized?


Figure Captions include the figure number (which is italicized

), a brief descriptive phrase (which substitutes for a title), and any brief explanation necessary for understanding the figure.

Do figure legends go above or below?

In general, a figure legend will contain more detail and be placed as a single paragraph,

either above or below the figure

.

Should figure captions be indented?

Table and Figure titles should stand alone on the left side of the page.

Any line after the first should be indented to be left-aligned with the first line

.

What are figure labels?

A figure title

informs the viewer what they should

.

learn from the graph or figure

. This should not be a. full sentence or a statement of the axis titles; rather, it should provide context for the figure.

What is figure caption in Word?

A caption is

a numbered label, such as “Figure 1”, that you can add to a figure, a table, an equation, or another object

.

Is figure capitalized in text?

The words table and figure are

always capitalized in figure captions and table titles

.

Should I write fig or figure?

How do you introduce a figure in an essay?

Good alternatives to “show” include

“display,” “demonstrate,” “illustrate,” “depict” (for figures), and “list” (for tables)

. As always, search for the best verb to describe your figure or table.

How do you reference a figure in an academic paper?

First, there should be,

a brief mention of the table or figure in the text preceding its placement in your document

. This should explain why the table or image was included or what major point the table or image is helping you to make. Just above the table or image, there should be an appropriate, descriptive title.

Do tables need legends?

Just like tables

all figures need to have a clear and concise legend caption to accompany them

. Images help readers visualize the information you are trying to convey.

What is a figure legend in a manuscript?

Legends or captions

explain figures, tables, or images in the manuscript

. As you know, using of figures and tables in research papers serves the purpose of providing illustrative description of the subject matter. Similarly, what legends or captions do is provide descriptive information of the figures or tables.

Is a table a figure?


Tables are numerical values or text displayed in rows and columns

. A Figure is any type of illustration (chart, graph,photograph, drawing maps …) other than a table.

Do figures include pictures?


Figures are any images that you include in your document

, i.e. illustrations, diagrams, graphs, photographs, images of artworks and etc. Whenever you include a figure in your document, you also provide a caption.

How do you write a figure caption on a graph?

  1. Use captions instead of titles. …
  2. Place captions under figures. …
  3. Use a period after figure numbers. …
  4. Use sentence-style capitalization. …
  5. End captions with a period … …
  6. Include a variety of information (if necessary). …
  7. Reference all figures in your text.

What is a figure page?

Figures include

all graphical displays of information that are not tables

. Common types include graphs, charts, drawings, maps, plots, and photos. Just like tables, figures should supplement the text and should be both understandable on their own and referenced fully in the text.

How do you prepare the figures and tables in a manuscript for submission?


Ensure that the tables and figures in your research manuscript are self-explanatory and can be understood independent of text

. 2. Do not repeat the contents of your tables and figures within the text. Instead, use the text to focus on the significance or key points of your tables and figures.

How do you label a figure in a lab report?

How do you name a figure on a poster?

Does figure 1 need to be in italics?

Every figure should appear flush with the left margin.

Immediately below the figure, provide its number (e.g., “Figure 1”) in italics

, followed by a period, followed by a brief but descriptive title (called a “figure caption”) in sentence case.

What should be included in a figure legend?

How do you write figures?

  1. Use captions instead of titles. …
  2. Place captions under figures. …
  3. Use a period after figure numbers. …
  4. Use sentence-style capitalization. …
  5. End captions with a period … …
  6. Include a variety of information (if necessary). …
  7. Reference all figures in your text.

What is a figure title?

Figure Title

A figure title

informs the viewer what they should

.

learn from the graph or figure

. This should not be a. full sentence or a statement of the axis titles; rather, it should provide context for the figure.

Should figures come before or after text?

The author, as opposed to the typesetter, guidelines for APA style require the figures to go

after the references

and hence nowhere near where they are referenced.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.