Tables

Tables, like graphs, allow us to present large amounts of information in a compact form. This information need not be only data. It could also present an experimental test matrix or a list of material properties. Tables, like figures, are stand alone items. One should be able to remove any table from a report and still understand all the information it contains. Thus they must include all pertinent information required to use the table. This implies that units should be included in the table.

Here is a list of rules to follow

• Every table should be referenced in the text. Do not reference tables that are not in the text.

• Locate the tables as closely as possible to where they are described in the text, usually on the same page or the next page. Never put a table on a page preceeding its reference in the text.

• Any table must have only one caption or title. This caption is placed above the text. Only when a caption contains more than one sentence should it be ended with a period.

• The caption should reveal the actual contents of the table and not be a general or nondescript title. Compare:

  Table X.X Experimental Data

  Table X.X Measured Calorific Values of Chlorine

• Reference all tables using a double numeration scheme. Table numbering is independent from the figure numbering.

• The list of tables should reproduce the caption that is actually above the table and the page number on which the table appears. Word processors can automatically handle this task, if so configured.

• Tables should not spill over into the margins. Use a complete page if necessary. Rotate them if the landscape aspect ratio is more suitable.

• For rotated tables (again landscape versus portrait) their bottoms should face as explained in the figures Chapter 6.

• Measured variables are set in the columns. For example, a table of fuel properties may have Viscosity, Calorific value, Surface tension as column headers with the different data sets in rows. For this example, rows would specify which fuel.

• Column headers are separated from the data with a line. Headers include the variable name (written out, not in symbolic form) and the units of that variable. Some prefer to enclose the units in brackets. A counter example to this is the gas tables by Keenan, Chao and Kaye [12] or the steam tables by Keenan et al. [13]. One must search through the front matter of these books' pages to determine the units for the variables presented.

• The first column of a table is known as the stub and contains the categories that define the data sets. The stub may or may not have a column heading.

• It is sometimes useful to group data into sub-sets. An extra column to the right of the stub will easily allow this.

• The typeface size maybe reduced to 8 points if the table is too large. Less than this and the table will become unreadable; thus you need to spread it over many pages. However, large tables are seldom required. Try splitting up the information into smaller chunks and putting them in different tables. This may improve readability.