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Velvet Digest

Should table captions be above or below?

Author

Eleanor Gray

Updated on April 06, 2026

Labeling Tables and Figures Figure captions are generally placed below the figures, while table captions must be placed above the tables. This is because we generally read tables from the top down, and therefore want to see the caption at the top. Figures are not always read top down.

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Then, where do you put the title of a table?

It may also help to think of the title as the “topic sentence” of the table—it tells the reader what the table is about and how it's organized. Tables are read from the top down, so titles go above the body of the table and are left-justified.

Similarly, how do you label a table in a research paper? Using Tables

  1. Title: Tables should have a clear, descriptive title, which functions as the “topic sentence” of the table.
  2. Column Titles: The goal of these title headings is to simplify the table.
  3. Table Body: This is the main area of the table where numerical or textual data is located.

Consequently, should figure captions be centered?

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). All captions should start with a capitalized word and end with a period.

How do you write a caption for a graph?

5 tips for writing great chart captions

  1. Include the units of representation. You should include the unit of representation of data in the caption, or in the sub-caption.
  2. Include the time period.
  3. Avoid using articles like a, an, the.
  4. Adjectives are a strict no-no.
Related Question Answers

What is a table title?

Updated: 11/13/2018 by Computer Hope. Not to be confused with a column header or row header, a table header is a row at the top of a table used to label each column. For example, in the below table there are three columns with a "Name," "Date of Birth," and "Phone" header.

What is a table caption?

A caption is a numbered label, such as "Figure 1", that you can add to a figure, a table, an equation, or another object. You can also use those captions to create a table of the captioned items for example, a table of figures or a table of equations.

How do you introduce a table?

Steps
  1. Introduce the table in the text first. Throughout the paper, you will number figures and tables consecutively, each in its own group, for example: “Figure 1, Table 1, Table 2, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Table 3…”
  2. Use the label and the number.
  3. Steer clear of capitalization.

What is a table legend?

Table legends go above the body of the Table and are left justified; Tables are read from the top down. Figure legends go below the graph and are left justified; graphs and other types of Figures are usually read from the bottom up.

Are tables figures?

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.

What is a 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.

Do you italicize table titles?

Italicize the table title. Do not italicize the table number. Standard abbreviations and symbols, such as % or no. If the table is from another source, include a note below the table specifying whether it is from another source or adapted from another source.

What is caption in HTML?

Definition and Usage The <caption> tag defines a table caption. The <caption> tag must be inserted immediately after the <table> tag. Note: You can specify only one caption per table. Tip: By default, a table caption will be center-aligned above a table.

Where do you put the title of a figure?

Labeling Tables and Figures Figure captions are generally placed below the figures, while table captions must be placed above the tables. This is because we generally read tables from the top down, and therefore want to see the caption at the top.

How do you caption a picture in an essay?

There are two ways to organize your images: either place them in your text next to the paragraph where you discuss them (Figure 1), or put them all together at the end of the essay (Figure 2). Images always need captions. Captions should do two things; label the image and tell us the image's source.

How do you describe a graph?

The 4 main types of graphs are a bar graph or bar chart, line graph, pie chart, and diagram. Bar graphs are used to show relationships between different data series that are independent of each other. In this case, the height or length of the bar indicates the measured value or frequency.

How much is 9 figures?

Nine figures means a hundred million dollars ($100,000,000).

How do you caption a picture in MLA format?

The caption should be the Works Cited list citation for the source the figure was found in. For example, if it was found on a website, cite the website. Label your figures starting at 1. Information about the figure (the caption) is placed directly below the image in your assignment.

What is a figure caption in Excel?

Microsoft Excel 2010 lets you type captions on your chart in order to make the data more meaningful to your colleagues and clients. Insert a text box right inside a chart area to contain and position your text in the layout.

How do you label a bar graph?

Required bar graph titles include the name of the graph, the title of the vertical axes, and the title of the horizontal axes. It is important to title bar graphs carefully so the information makes sense and the graph is easy to read and understand. Name the bar graph.

What is List of Tables in research paper?

A List of Tables is a reference tool that allows your readers to quickly and easily navigate to data in your thesis or dissertation. Construction of the list is similar to creating a Table of Contents. To save yourself some time in making your List of Tables, be sure that you use font styles.

What is the difference between table and figure?

1. Tables are text or numbers in the form of columns whereas figures are illustrations of different kinds like a pie chart, a drawing, a photograph, any graphic which represents the data in a graphic form. 2. Tables are labeled at the top of the illustration whereas figures are labeled below the illustration.

How do you cite a table?

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 cite a figure?

You will need to include them in reference.
  1. Figures need to be numbered e.g. Figure 1. or Fig. 1 or Figs. 1,2,3.
  2. Number all Figures in the order they first appear in the text.
  3. Figures must be referred to in the main body of the text.
  4. Refer to them in the text by their number.