APS House Style :: Hand Editing
Tables must be in numerical order; change tables listed by letters or Roman numerals to Arabic numerals.
A table should not be listed as, for example, Table 1a and Table 1b. If this occurs, you may have to reorganize the table or split the two parts into two separate tables.
Use your best judgment when it comes to organizing the information presented in the table.
Every table should have a title. If the table does not have a title, then you may have to create one or query the author to provide a suitable one. If you choose to create the title, then structure it from the sentence where the table is cited in the text; query the author to verify that the table has been described as meant.
A double-rule line separates the table title from the heading information and body of the table. Note that not all tables require heading information; in these cases, the double-rule line is between the title and body of the table.
Primary headings (those used to indicate separate columns or those on top of straddles) are always initial capped. Secondary headings only have the first letter of the first word capitalized.
Straddles are used to avoid presenting redundant information. For example, if the headings read as follows:
then change the headings to:
Double straddles should be used sparingly.
You may also sometimes see information presented as follows:
Although this is an acceptable format, it is not the preferred one. Instead, change it to
or
A single-rule line separates the headings from the body of the table.
Information within the body of the table can be separated by centered italics (for major categories), by simple rows, or by indented rows. Here is an example:
A single-rule line separates the body of the table from its legend.
All measurements shown in tables should have their units indicated; these units should be presented within the heading or row information or within the legend. If the units are not listed, then you must query the author and request them.
Units presented in heading and row information are separated by a comma except for dosages of drugs, which have parentheses around them.
Here is the standard order for information presented in the table legend:
Values are means ± SE (SD); n = no. of things in table. Any particulars that the author has included describing the table. Abbreviation, definition; abbreviation, definition; etc. Statistical significance information (in the order of * † ‡ § or a--z).
This can be explained a bit more clearly. The first sentence of the table legend begins by describing how the measurements are shown and how many animals or experiments were used for the data. Measurements are most commonly indicated as means ± SE or means (SD); if you have a doubt as to which one was used, then try looking in the text under any statistical section listed in the Materials and Methods. The relevant sample size [as a number (n)] is shown after the presentation information (and separated from it by a semicolon).
Authors often include more information regarding how the experimental data were obtained. This includes the experimental conditions, treatments, and some analysis of the data. This is also an opportunity for you to define any of the abbreviations used in the table within the legend. As usual, abbreviations need only be defined at their first occurrence.
Finally, any statistical information indicated in the table by symbols should be described. APS has a specific order for the symbols; they are described in the order of * † ‡ §. If the symbols are out of order or if other symbols have been used within the table, then you will have to reorder or alter them. If fewer than 4 symbols have been used, then change to letters (in alphabetical order).