Tables and Figures Both tables and figures are used to: support conclusions illustrate concepts Tables: Tables present numbers for comparison with other numbers Figures: Reveal trends or delineate selected features. Data presented in tables should NEVER be duplicated in figures, and vice versa
Textual references to Figures and Tables Figures and tables presented consecutively in the text, beginning with the number one. Capitalize the t in table and the f in figure when you refer to a specific table or figure created in your text. Most journals have this convention see table XXX is nonsense. When interpreting, avoid redundancy.
Figure and table headers and footers Use these recommended fonts where possible: Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman consistent font within and among sections All figure elements, including letters, numbers, and symbols, must be legible at their final size. In general, authors should make the figure type size large enough so that it is at least 8 points after reduction. No type should be less than 6 points.
Ability to follow directions Define all abbreviations Parameters are italicized Check spelling Consistent with journal?
Tables Is the table necessary? Not all analyses or results warrant a Table or Figure. Simple results are best stated in a single sentence, with data summarized parenthetically Tables are not meant to be a data dump Consistent presentation Consistent with the tables in the journal or your advisor s demands Are all abbreviations; special use of italics, parentheses, and dashes; and special symbols explained? There are no vertical lines in tables
Tables Statistical considerations Are all probability level values correctly identified asterisks attached to the appropriate table entries? Is a probability level assigned the same number of asterisks in all the tables in the same document?
Tables Tables have headers. Headers are located at the top of the table Present the header in plain text with only the initial letter of the header and any proper names in the caption capitalized. Is the header as brief as possible but completely explanatory? Economy and clarity. Do not be afraid to use lengthy figure and table captions if the table content demands it this is preferable to confusing or incomplete ones.
PLOS One Biology Instructions to authors
This is a chart junk table Header 1 Header 2 Header 3 Header 4 Header 5 Header 6 0.762815 0.139808 0.95966 0.45881 0.439647 0.723606 0.322309 0.274732 0.478343 0.582246 0.81591 0.414867 0.364256 0.036356 0.886593 0.399706 0.510309 0.583593 0.905353 0.953898 0.148583 0.234727 0.298854 0.799479 0.313884 0.117932 0.447546 0.85732 0.518492 0.279182
This is a chart junk table Header 1 Header 2 Header 3 Header 4 Header 5 Header 6 0.762815 0.139808 0.95966 0.45881 0.439647 0.723606 0.322309 0.274732 0.478343 0.582246 0.81591 0.414867 0.364256 0.036356 0.886593 0.399706 0.510309 0.583593 0.905353 0.953898 0.148583 0.234727 0.298854 0.799479 0.313884 0.117932 0.447546 0.85732 0.518492 0.279182
This is a chart junk table Header 1 (units) Header 2 (units) Header 3 (units) Header 4 (units) Header 5 (units) Header 6 (units) 0.762815 0.139808 0.95966 0.45881 0.439647 0.723606 0.322309 0.274732 0.478343 0.582246 0.81591 0.414867 0.364256 0.036356 0.886593 0.399706 0.510309 0.583593 0.905353 0.953898 0.148583 0.234727 0.298854 0.799479 0.313884 0.117932 0.447546 0.85732 0.518492 0.279182
This is a chart junk table Header 1 (units) Header 2 (units) Header 3 (units) Header 4 (units) Header 5 (units) Header 6 (units) 0.763 0.140 0.960 0.459 0.440 0.724 0.322 0.275 0.478 0.582 0.816 0.415 0.364 0.036 0.887 0.400 0.510 0.584 0.905 0.954 0.149 0.235 0.299 0.799 0.314 0.118 0.448 0.857 0.518 0.279
This is a chart junk table Header 1 (units) Header 2 (units) Header 3 (units) Header 4 (units) Header 5 (units) Header 6 (units) 0.763 0.140 0.960 0.459 0.440 0.724 0.322 0.275 0.478 0.582 0.816 0.415 0.364 0.036 0.887 0.400 0.510 0.584 0.905 0.954 0.149 0.235 0.299 0.799 0.314 0.118 0.448 0.857 0.518 0.279
This is a chart junk table Header 1 (units) Header 2 (units) Header 3 (units) Header 4 (units) Header 5 (units) Header 6 (units) 0.763 0.140 0.960 0.459 0.440 0.724 0.322 0.275 0.478 0.582 0.816 0.415 0.364 0.036 0.887 0.400 0.510 0.584 0.905 0.954 0.149 0.235 0.299 0.799 0.314 0.118 0.448 0.857 0.518 0.279
This is a chart junk table Header 1 (units) Header 2 (units) Header 3 (units) Header 4 (units) Header 5 (units) Header 6 (units) 0.763 0.140 0.960 0.459 0.440 0.724 0.322 0.275 0.478 0.582 0.816 0.415 0.364 0.036 0.887 0.400 0.510 0.584 0.905 0.954 0.149 0.235 0.299 0.799 0.314 0.118 0.448 0.857 0.518 0.279
Figures Encompass at least four substantially different kinds of illustrations in black and white, shades of gray, color, or some combination: Quantitative data (line, bar, etc.) Line drawings Maps Photographs
Figures formatting considerations They are generally used to show trends rather than the detailed information in a table Aspect ratio of height 2/3 of the width Do not draw a box around them
Figures Images should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. The final size of the published figure depend on where it will appear For journals, a single column is approximately 8.5 cm (3.5 inches) wide Full page width is approximately 17.8 cm (7 inches)
Figure graphic elements Axis scale Do not crowd Legend Complete that identifies figure elements Lines Every line has a meaning and a purpose No decorative borders, shadows or other Excel garbage
Edward Tufte The graphical display of quantitative information Figures should not draw the reader to the heaviness of the data through excessive shading Instead, focus on presenting quantitative contents In writing, you must kill all your darlings. ** William Faulkner **true for your T & F
Tufte The graphical display of quantitative information
Tufte The graphical display of quantitative information The more you leave out, the more you highlight what you leave in.
Compare the data to ink ratio
Compare the data to ink ratio
Data to ink ratio
Data to ink ratio
Data to ink ratio
Data to ink ratio
Figure display is best when: Correct and legible (Large) labels with units. Correct and legible (Large) tick marks. Grayscale (white to black) points and lines. Equation variables need to relate to independent, and dependent variables on the figure. Minimize ink horizontal lines that do nothing to add to the interpretation (unless they do). Axes range must coincide with data range.
Perfect chart junk: 10 8 Catch-at-age Data y = -0.5104x + 9.2155 R 2 = 0.9416 6 ln(n) 4 2 Not Used Used 0-2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age
Perfect chart junk: 10 8 Catch-at-age Data y = -0.5104x + 9.2155 R 2 = 0.9416 6 ln(n) 4 2 Not Used Used 0-2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age
Perfect chart junk: Catch-at-age Data 10 9 8 y = -0.5104x + 9.2155 R 2 = 0.9416 ln(n) 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Not Used Used 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age
Perfect chart junk: Catch-at-age Data 10 9 8 y = -0.5104x + 9.2155 R 2 = 0.9416 ln(n) 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Not Used Used 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age
Perfect chart junk: Catch-at-age Data 10 9 8 ln(n) = -0.5104(age) + 9.2155 R 2 = 0.9416 ln(n) 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Not Used Used 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age
Perfect chart junk: Catch-at-age Data ln(n) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Not Used Used 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age Figure XXX. Line described ln(n) = -0.5104(age) + 9.2155, R 2 = 0.941
Perfect chart junk: 10 9 8 7 6 ln(n) 5 4 3 Not Used Used 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age Figure XXX. Catch-at-age Data described by ln(n) = -0.5104(age) + 9.2155, R 2 = 0.941
Perfect chart junk: 10 9 8 7 6 ln(n) 5 4 3 Not Used Used 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age Figure XXX. Catch-at-age Data described by ln(n) = -0.5104(age) + 9.2155, R 2 = 0.941
Perfect chart junk: 10 9 8 7 6 ln(n) 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Age = 0.941. Open Circle not used in Figure XXX. Catch-at-age Data described by ln(n) = -0.5104(age) + 9.2155, R 2 regression.
Perfect chart junk: ln(n) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 5 10 15 20 Age = 0.941. Open Circle not used in Figure XXX. Catch-at-age Data described by ln(n) = -0.5104(age) + 9.2155, R 2 regression.
Perfect chart junk: ln(n) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 5 10 15 Age = 0.941. Open Circle not used in Figure XXX. Catch-at-age Data described by ln(n) = -0.5104(age) + 9.2155, R 2 regression.
Presentation quality figure (in many steps): Natural log of population Estimate, ln(n) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 5 10 15 Age (y) Figure XXX. Catch curve of Jerrius Garciaii from data collected in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, 1976. The solid line is a linear regression of the natural log of population size (circles) as a function of age (y), R 2 = 0.94. Only those data with open circles were used for the determination of the regression parameters following the Peak Method, described in this manuscript. The regression line is extended for ages one to three to provide contrast. Estimated mean instantaneous total natural, Z is 0.51 y -1.