{"id":1682,"date":"2026-04-13T10:23:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T04:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/quick-tips-on-writing-titles-for-tables-and-figures-in-scientific-papers\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T08:41:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T03:11:35","slug":"quick-tips-on-writing-titles-for-tables-and-figures-in-scientific-papers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/quick-tips-on-writing-titles-for-tables-and-figures-in-scientific-papers","title":{"rendered":"Quick Tips on Writing Titles for Tables and Figures in Scientific Papers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blog Hightlights<\/strong><\/p>\n

To write a title for a table\/figure in a research paper you should<\/p>\n

1. Describe what the figure\/table represents in 1 sentence\/phrase (e.g., “Table 1. Liver function markers in patients undergoing hemodialysis (N =578)”)<\/p>\n

2. Include key variables and the subjects whose data are in the table\/figure<\/p>\n

3. Number tables and figures sequentially according to the order in which you mention them in the text.<\/p>\n

4. Place table titles above the table and figure titles below the figure, unless your journal guidelines state otherwise.<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Tables and figures are commonly used in research papers to supplement text.\u00a0The Method and Results sections\u00a0are most likely to have these display items to\u00a0inform readers of the experimental setup and\u00a0summarized findings.\u00a0This post looks at\u00a0how\u00a0<\/span>titles<\/span>\u00a0of tables and figures (although with figures it is customary to refer to titles as captions)\u00a0can be framed\u00a0and also\u00a0highlight some formatting aspects.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Titles:\u00a0Complete Sentences\u00a0vs\u00a0Sentence Fragments<\/a><\/p>\n

How to Style and Format Table\/Figure Titles<\/a><\/p>\n

Citing Tables\/Figures from Other Research Papers<\/a><\/p>\n

Tips to Write\u00a0Effective Titles for\u00a0Tables\/Figures<\/a><\/p>\n

Titles: Complete Sentences vs Sentence Fragments<\/h2>\n

Phrase the title as complete and declarative sentences that capture the essence of the information presented in the table\/figure when including them in reports and presentations. You can use sentence fragments that\u00a0indicate\u00a0their scope if they are part of a research paper.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples\u00a0for titles as complete sentences:<\/h3>\n

Table 2\u202f<\/span><\/b>Measurements of wind speed are subject to wide uncertainties.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Table 4<\/span><\/b>\u00a0European countries have stringent regulations governing noise pollution.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples for titles as sentence fragments:<\/h3>\n

Table 2\u202f<\/span><\/b>Range of uncertainty in measured wind speeds\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Table 4\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Regulations Concerning Noise Pollution in Europe<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to\u00a0Style\u00a0and\u00a0Format Table\/Figure Titles<\/h2>\n

The formatting of table and figure titles varies for\u00a0different style\u00a0guides.\u00a0Styles\u00a0guides\u00a0like\u00a0<\/span>APA<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>MLA<\/span><\/a>\u00a0provide detailed formatting instructions.\u00a0But if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0submitting\u00a0a research paper to a journal, the journal-specified formatting requirements ALWAYS take precedence over\u00a0style guide instructions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

APA Style Title Format<\/h3>\n

In APA, the table\/figure\u00a0number is left-aligned, written in bold above the title.\u00a0The title is double line spaced after the table\/figure\u00a0number; write it in title case and italicize. DO NOT use a period after the title.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Table 1<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a Table Title<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OR<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Figure 1<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a Figure Title<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MLA Style Title Format<\/h3>\n

The MLA style\u00a0for table titles is\u00a0similar to\u00a0that of APA: flush left on separate lines above the table.\u00a0Use title case but\u00a0the title need not be double spaced,\u00a0italicized, or bold.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Table 1<\/span>
This is a Table Title<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For figure titles, MLA recommends placing them below the figures\u00a0and abbreviating the label to \u201cFig.\u201d followed by the number.\u00a0A period can be used after the figure caption.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fig. 1. This is a Figure Title.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Citing Tables\/Figures from Other Research Papers<\/h2>\n

Sometimes, you may have to refer to tables or illustrations from previously published papers (including your own). But you should be aware of two main guidelines for this:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Tables\/figures taken from other sources should be listed under references.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. In the main text, add a note below the table\/figure clarifying that copyright was obtained from the original owner.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is best to refer to journal guidelines on how this should be presented in your paper.\u00a0In general, however,\u00a0the\u00a0display item along with the original title should be placed close to its first mention in the main text.\u00a0Then, below the table\/figure, add a note. This note\u00a0should basically\u00a0provide enough information for readers to refer to the original source if needed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few\u00a0ways to\u00a0write this note:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Note<\/span><\/i>. Reprinted from \u201cArticle Title,\u201d by Author name, Year,\u202f<\/span>Journal Title, Volume\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(issue), page number.\u202fCopyright (year) by title of publisher.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OR<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Note.<\/span><\/i>\u202fReprinted from\u202f<\/span>Book\u202fTitle\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(p. xx), by\u00a0Author name, Year, Place of Publication: Publisher.\u202fCopyright (year) by title of publisher.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips to\u00a0Write\u00a0Effective\u00a0Titles for\u00a0Tables\/Figures<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s\u00a0good to be aware of\u00a0<\/span>when tables and figures should be used in research papers<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0But since we are focusing on titles, here are a few general guidelines on writing effective table titles and figure captions:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n