Citing and referencing: Tables and Figures

A guide to the styles recommended by Monash schools and departments for students and researchers

Tables and Figures

Notes: Follow these examples closely for all layout, punctuation, spacing, capitalizing and italicizing.

When including a figure or a table from another source in your work, it is important to include appropriate citations. 

  • Tables are numerical values or text displayed in rows and columns.
  • Figures are other illustrations such as graphs, charts, maps, drawings, photographs etc.
  • All Tables and Figures must be referred to in the main body of the text.
  • Number all Tables and Figures in the order they first appear in the text. 
  • Refer to them in the text by their number. For example:

As shown in Table 2 ...

OR

As illustrated in Figure 3 ...

 

Tables reproduced in your text:

  • Each table should be displayed with a brief explanatory title. 
Example of Title

Table 1. Hours of Television Viewing Per Week by Age Group

 

  • You must include a caption beneath the table. Use the following format - this format differs from the reference list format.  See note at bottom of this page regarding copyright permissions if publishing a table or a figure.
  • For other examples of tables see APA Style Central.
Format of Caption

Article:

Note. Reprinted [adapted] from “Title of article,” by A. B. Author and C. D. Author, Year, Journal Title, Volume, page number. Copyright Year by "Name of copyright holder".

Book:

Note. Reprinted [adapted] from Title of book (p. xx), by E. F. Author, Year, Place of Publication: Publisher. Copyright Year by "Name of copyright holder".

 

Figures reproduced in your text

  • Each figure should be displayed with a brief explanatory title. eg. Figure 3. Complex Theoretical Formulations
  • You must include a caption beneath the figure. Use the following format - references for figures are not required in your reference list.
  • For examples of figures see APA Style Central
Format of caption for figures adapted or copied directly from another source.

Article:

Figure X. A concise explanation of the figure. Adapted [reprinted] from “Title of article,” by A. Author, B. Author, and C. Author, Year, Journal Title, Volume(Issue), page number. Copyright Year by "Name of the copyright holder".

Book:

Figure X. A concise explanation of the figure. Adapted [reprinted] from Title of book (p. xx), by E. F. Author, Year, Place of Publication: Publisher. Copyright Year by "Name of the copyright holder".

 

If a figure or table is reproduced from another source for a published work, permission must be sought from the copyright holder and this information must be included in the caption.

 

Article:

Figure X. A concise explanation of the figure. Reprinted [adapted] from “Title of article,” by A. Author, B. Author, and C. Author, Year, Journal Title, Volume, page number. Copyright Year by "Name of copyright holder". Reprinted [or adapted] with permission. 

Book:

Figure X. A concise explanation of the figure. Reprinted [adapted] from Title of Book (p. xx), by E. F. Author, Year, Place of Publication: Publisher. Copyright Year by "Name of copyright holder". Reprinted [or adapted] with permission.