Anatomy of a Table

When to use a table? Use a table if:

• data are not appropriate for a graph,
• or data cannot be presented as a simple statement in the text

How is a table organized?

• Number each table (eg. Table 1)
• Include a caption above the table - this is like a title for the table
• Organize data to be compared in columns so it can be read down
  • Column labels should be brief and can be abbreviated
  • Columns should have units associated with them
  • If means are presented include mean +/- error (95% CI or SE)
• Use footnotes to add comments or explanations about the data in individual columns
• Use footnotes for results of statistical tests if appropriate. (Test name, statistic value, df, p) Alternatively the statistic value and p value may be included in a column.

Where should a table be placed? DO NOT try to integrate tables and figures into the text. When manuscripts are submitted for publication tables and figures are submitted on separate pages.

The sample table below is based on data collected by Tom Susman '04 and Emily Ruffing '04'.

Table 1. Multiple antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli collected in streams above and below cattle fields in Knox County, Ohio.

^a Refer to Figure 1 for site locations
^b X ² was used to compare the frequency of resistance categories for E. coli collected above and below the cattle fields, df=1 for each test. N = 100 at each site