Formatting Tables and Figures in APA and MLA

APA style for tables and figures

Here are a few guidelines to follow when a table is included in your APA style paper:

• Start with the table or figure label. It should be left-aligned and bolded. Each label includes the word “Table” or “Figure” followed by a number. Example:
  • Table 1
  • Figure 1
• Next, show the table title or figure title. It should be left-aligned, italicized, and in title case.
• Next is the table or figure.
  • For tables:
    • In the top table row, center the headings. No fancy formatting (e.g., bold, italicize, etc.) is needed.
    • Next are the table columns and rows with information. The first column should left-align the text, and the other columns are centered.
  • Finally, place a Note under the table. The note can give context to the information shown or discuss where the information can be found. Here’s an example note:
    • Note: From “This Year’s World Malaria Report at a Glance,” by World Health Organization [EO], 2018, (https://www.who.int/malaria/media/world-malaria-report-2018/en/).

Example table:

MLA style for tables

• Double-space everything.
• Place the table near the part of the paper that discusses the table.
• Start with the table label. It should be left-aligned. A label contains the word “Table” followed by a number. Example:
  • Table 1
• Next, show the table title. It should be left-aligned, italicized, and in title case. Example:
  • Top 5 School Districts with the Largest ELL Populations
• Next is the table. Use dividing lines at your discretion. No other specific formatting is given in the handbook.
• Next, include information on the source of the table, then any additional notes that are relevant.
  • Notes begin with lowercase letters (a.) to indicate they are notes.
  • If including a note, include the letter (a.) in superscript next to the table title.
• Here are examples of a title, source information, and note.
  • Title:  Top 5 School Districts with the Largest ELL Populations
  • Source information:  Source: Ruiz Soto, Ariel G., Sarah Hooker, and Jeanne Batalova. “States and Districts with the Highest Number and Share of English Language Learners.” Migration Policy Institute, 2015, www.migrationpolicy.org/research/states-and-districts-highest-numbers-and-share-english-language-learners.
  • Note:  a. These numbers are from school year 2011-2012.

Example Table:

MLA style for figures

Figures are any other type of illustrative material like images, graphs, maps, etc. Here are some guidelines about including figures in an MLA paper:

• First, show the figure.
• Under the figure, add a line that starts with the figure number (Fig. #), followed by a caption. The caption sometimes contains bibliographic information like the figure creator and year published. Example:
  • Fig. 1. Painting by Jacques-Louis David in 1788. “The Loves of Paris and Helen.”
• Option: Instead of adding a works cited entry for the figure, you can include all citation information in the caption instead. Example:
  • Fig. 1. Painting by Jacques-Louis David in 1788. “The Loves of Paris and Helen.” Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Picture_of_the_day#/media/File:The_Love_of_Paris_and_Helen_by_Jacques-Louis_David.jpg.

Example figure: