Tips on Tables
Tables are best used to organize relevant, essential data that would be too awkward or too lengthy to include in the text, and should be used only to provide data not already included in the text. (See the section on tables in “Preparing Your Manuscript.”)
Tables are to be accompanied by both their number (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) and their title or caption. Table placement is mentioned in the text, but the tables themselves are placed at the very end of the document. The author should designate placement of each table within the manuscript by entering (on a separate line between paragraphs), “//INSERT TABLE 1 ABOUT HERE//.” When published, tables are generally placed following the first paragraph in which they are mentioned.
Detailed formatting guidelines are contained in the APA Publication Manual. Take special care to verify from the guidelines that the information you wish to submit as a table actually is a table.
QHR does not create or revise tables; this is the responsibility of the author.
How to Create Your Table
- Include only necessary data
- Keep it simple, without unnecessary formatting of lines and text
- Keep the table as small as possible, both in width and length; use only the amount of space necessary to contain your data. To fit within a single column of the journal it should be no wider than 2.95;” to fit across both columns it should be no wider than 6”. Narrow the table columns to eliminate unused “white” space. Under special circumstances (as determined by the editor), a table may be placed with a vertical orientation on the page
- Multiple tables within the same manuscript should be similar in appearance, including the font style and size.
- Create the table the way you wish it to appear when published, then double space all text, including column headers. Set double-spacing with formatting specifications, rather than manually inserting line breaks.
- Use font no smaller than 8 points and no larger than 10 points. Use no more than two different font sizes in one table (one is preferred).
- “Hide” all vertical lines and all but the top and bottom horizontal lines.
- Avoid the use of shading
- Avoid the overuse of bolded and/or italic font, which can make a table look “busy,” without enhancing it in any way.
