How to make figures and tables
All publications, all editors use a style manual
This is yours
It is based on AIP
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Scientific papers include only
Figures
Tables
Equations
Capitalized
against my better
No Graphs
judgment. AIP
No Charts
treats “Figure 1”
as a proper noun
Tables are not Figures
Figures are not Appendixes
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Numbering
Number Figures, Tables, and Equations in order in which
they appear in text
Cite (call out) every Figure and Table in the text
But not necessarily every Equation
Locate every Figure and Table on same page as first citation
Or on next page (or group all at end of document)
Figure or Table may be located above first callout
Do not say “Figure X below”
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Equations
¡Work equations into sentences!
The equation [no colon, usually no commas]
x=y
(1)
is represented by a line at 45°.
Not
Equation (1) is represented by a line at 45°.
x=y
(1)
Not a bad idea to indent for clarity
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Watch out for μsoft’s (and TEX’s?) defaults:
The modulus of elasticity is given by
E=
σ
ε
,
Where ...
Not capitalized.
Hit Edit – Undo
Autoformat (or turn
it off)
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In-line equations (unnumbered)
The equation x = y [usually no commas] is represented by a
line at 45°.
Variables are usually not set off by commas either:
The symbol x represents the independent variable.
NOT
The symbol, x, represents the independent variable.
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Tables
Use horizontal rules sparingly, no vertical rules
Note title above table (tabletop)
Entries shd
have been
centered in
columns (dec
pts aligned too,
but you
Note only 3
rules
This slide is too busy
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Common errors
Table 1. Caption is far too long for the width of the table.
Table 2. Cells too wide and justified poorly [Gatesware’s
defaults – text flush-left, numbers flush-right].
Source
Sodium
Helium
Wavelength, nm
Etc.
589
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
Table 3. Too many rules.
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What’s wrong with these figures?
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Moral
Use color sparingly
And only when necessary
Make the figure intelligible in black-and-white
Only then add color
Use white background
Because photocopies of your paper will not show color
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What’s wrong with this graph?
Fig. 1. Graph according to Gates
12
y = 0.9993x - 0.0802
Dependent variable
10
R2 = 0.9911
8
6
Series1
Linear (Series1)
4
2
0
-2
-5
0
5
10
15
Independent variable
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Caption in
wrong place
Fig. 1. Graph according to Gates
Usually too many sig figs
Useless coefficient
Points shd not be
connected when
best-fit line
shown
Ugly box
12
y = 0.9993x - 0.0802
Dependent variable
10
Ugly rules
R2 = 0.9911
8
6
Series1
Linear (Series1)
4
Ugly gray
background
2
Axes in wrong
places
0
-2
-5
0
5
10
15
Useless frame
Independent variable
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12
Dependent variable (unit)
10
y = 1.00x - 0.08
8
6
4
2
0
-2
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Independent variable (unit)
Fig. 2. Properly formatted graph
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Good figure, color
appropriate
(Not our style manual,
but who’s looking?)
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