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• Figure & Table Lists | Word Instructions, Template & Examples

Figure & Table Lists | Word Instructions, Template & Examples

Published on 24 May 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on 25 October 2022.

A list of figures and tables compiles all of the figures and tables that you used in your thesis or dissertation, along with their corresponding page numbers. These lists give your reader an overview of how you have used figures and tables in your document.

While these lists are often not required, you may want to include one as a way to stay organised if you are using several figures and tables in your paper. Your educational institution may require one, so be sure to check their guidelines. Ultimately, if you do choose to add one, it should go directly after your table of contents .

You can download our Microsoft Word template below to help you get started.

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• Table of contents

How to create a list of figures and tables in Word

Example of a list of tables and figures, additional lists to consider, frequently asked questions.

The first step to creating your list of figures and tables is to ensure that each of your figures and tables has a caption . This way, Microsoft Word will be able to find each one and compile them in your list automatically.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Navigate to the References tab, and click ‘Insert Caption’, which you can find in the Captions group.
• Give your caption a name. In the Label list, you can select the label that best describes your figure or table, or make your own by selecting ‘New Label’.

Next, you can insert the list of tables and figures directly by clicking ‘Insert Table of Figures’, which can be found to the right of the ‘Insert Caption’ button. Be careful here – the list will only include items that you have marked using the ‘Insert Caption’ tool!

You can choose the formatting and layout within this menu as well, as you can see below.

There are a few things to remember as you go:

• Figures and tables always need to be numbered, with clear titles.
• If a figure or table is taken from or based on another source, be sure to cite your sources .

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In addition to your list of tables and figures, there are a few other lists to consider for your thesis or dissertation. They can be placed in the following order:

• title=”Abbreviations of a dissertation” Abbreviation list

Copyright information can usually be found wherever the table or figure was published. For example, for a diagram in a journal article , look on the journal’s website or the database where you found the article. Images found on sites like Flickr are listed with clear copyright information.

If you find that permission is required to reproduce the material, be sure to contact the author or publisher and ask for it.

Lists of figures and tables are often not required, and they aren’t particularly common. They specifically aren’t required for APA Style, though you should be careful to follow their other guidelines for figures and tables .

If you have many figures and tables in your thesis or dissertation, include one may help you stay organised. Your educational institution may require them, so be sure to check their guidelines.

APA doesn’t require you to include a list of tables or a list of figures . However, it is advisable to do so if your text is long enough to feature a table of contents and it includes a lot of tables and/or figures .

A list of tables and list of figures appear (in that order) after your table of contents, and are presented in a similar way.

A list of figures and tables compiles all of the figures and tables that you used in your thesis or dissertation and displays them with the page number where they can be found.

Your list of tables and figures should go directly after your table of contents in your thesis or dissertation.

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George, T. (2022, October 25). Figure & Table Lists | Word Instructions, Template & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 21 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/list-of-figures-tables/

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List of Figures and Tables in a Dissertation – Examples in Word

Published by Owen Ingram at August 13th, 2021 , Revised On September 20, 2023

“List of tables and figures is a list containing all the tables and figures that you have used in your dissertation paper. Typically, dissertations don’t have many tables and figures unless the research involved is too deep and lengthy.”

Another reason to have an independent list of figures and tables in the dissertation and corresponding page numbers is the research’s nature. For example, research on a topic from physical sciences or engineering could include many figures and tables. Ideally, quantitative research studies tend to contain more tables and/or figures than qualitative ones.

The purpose of presenting the list of figures and tables in the dissertation on a separate page is to help the readers find tables and figures of their interest without looking through the whole dissertation document.

First of all, we need to decide whether we require the figure and table list in the dissertation to begin with.

If your dissertation includes many tables and figures, this list will prove to be helpful for the readers, because the figures will have relative page numbers mentioned with them so they can navigate to the figure or table of their choice with just one click.

A list of table or figures in a dissertation typically follows this simple format:

Also Read: How to Best Use References in a Dissertation

Referencing List of Figures and Tables in the Dissertation

When mentioning tables and figures in the list, one must be sure that they have been clearly numbered and titled. If a figure has been obtained from an external source, that source should be clearly referenced in the text and the references section.

Regardless of the  referencing style , you are using, it is mandatory to provide a reference along with the title. This will help the readers to track the origin of the figure.

Adding Titles and Numbers to Figures and Tables

Adding titles and page numbers in your list of figures and tables within Microsoft Word is very quick and straightforward. Follow the steps mentioned below to generate a Microsoft Word-supported   list of figures and tables in the dissertation with their captions and corresponding page numbers.

• Highlight the table or the figure you want to add title and number to, right-click and click Insert Caption .
• Next, select the Above selected item if you are working with tables. Similarly, choose Below selected items if you want to add the title and page number to a figure.

Also read: How to Write the Abstract for the Dissertation.

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Generating List of Figures and Tables Automatically

After adding all your captions, MS Word will automatically generate the figures and tables list for you. Remember, the list will only contain those you already marked using the Insert Caption … tool.

To generate a list of tables and figures in MS Word automatically:

Step #1 – Decide where to Insert the List

Place your cursor at the point where you wish to insert the tables and figures list. The most suitable spot is always right below the table of contents in your dissertation paper.

Step #2 – Insert the List of Figures and Tables in the Dissertation

• In the Word menu bar, click on References .
• In the dialogue box that appears, click on Insert: Table of figures .
• In the dialogue box caption label, you can choose between a Figure or a Table , as appropriate. Moreover, you will be able to choose a design that appears most suitable for you. The reference provides all information that is required to find the source, e.g., Vinz, S.

Example of list of tables and figures

Other Useful Lists you can add to your Dissertation Paper

Although tables and figures lists can be beneficial, we might need a few more lists, including abbreviations and a glossary in dissertations. We can have a sequence for this which is as follows:

• Table of contents (ToC)
• List of tables and figures
• Abbreviations list

ResearchProspect has helped students with their dissertations and essays for several years, regardless of how urgent and complexes their requirements might be. We have dissertation experts in all academic subjects, so you can be confident of having each of your module requirements met. Learn more about our dissertation writing services and essay writing services .

FAQs About List of Tables and Figures in a Dissertation

Which comes first a list of figures or a list of tables.

Simply put, a list of tables comes first—right after the table of contents page, beginning from a new page—in a dissertation.

Are tables also figures?

No; tables have rows and columns in them, whereas figures in a dissertation can comprise any form of visual element, mostly images, graphs, charts, diagrams, flowcharts, etc. furthermore, tables generally summarise and represent raw data, such as the relationship between two quantitative variables.

Do I need to create a list of tables/figures even if I have only one table or figure in my dissertation?

Typically, yes; dissertation writing guidelines stipulate that we create a list even if we have used only one table and/or figure within our dissertation.

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How to Write the List of Figures for a Thesis or Dissertation

• By DiscoverPhDs
• September 20, 2020

A list of figures for your thesis or dissertation is exactly that: it’s a list of the names of all figures you’ve used in your thesis or dissertation, together with the page number that they’re on.

The list of figures is especially useful for a reader to refer to as it (1) gives the reader an overview of the types of figures you’ve included in your document and (2) helps them easily find a particular figure that they’re interested in.

Where Does the List of Figures go?

Write your list of figures and list of tables immediately after your list of contents. Unless specifically asked by a journal, you should not include a separate list of figures in a manuscript for peer-review.

Important Points to Remember

Ensure that the figure title in your list of figures are exactly the same as actually used in the main document. Double check that the page numbering is correct and the font size, margins and all other formatting is correct.

Formatting the List of Figures

Starting off, use Roman Numbers (e.g. iv and viii) to number the sections of the Table of Contents, List of Figures and List of Tables (the title page does not have a number written on it). Arabic numbering (e.g. 1, 2, 3) should start from the Introduction onwards.

Keep your margins consistent with those of the rest of the document, as required by your university. Usually this will be a margin of 4cm on the side of the paper that will be bound and 2cm on the opposing side (e.g. the pages printed that will be on the right hand side of the thesis will have a left margin of 4cm).

While the font size of your figure legends will be slightly smaller than the main text, keep the font style of the list of figures the same as the main text (usually 12 pt).

Title this section in all capital letters as “LIST OF FIGURES”.

List each new figure caption on a new line and capitalise the start of each word. Write the figure number on the left, then caption label and finally the page number the figure corresponds to on the right-hand side.

Apply the same formatting principle to the List of Tables in your thesis of dissertation. That is to insert each table numberon a new line, followed by the table title.

Example of the List of Figures

The example below was created in Microsoft Word. You could also consider incorporating other tools such as Endnote to help automate some of the work of entering a new caption for a figure or table. Be mindful of the Figure labelling convention required by your university. For example, you may need to align the Figure numbers with each chapter (e.g. Figure 1.1, 1.2, 1.3…. for Chapter 1 and Figure 2.1, 2.2, 2.3…. for Chapter 2).

A thesis and dissertation appendix contains additional information which supports your main arguments. Find out what they should include and how to format them.

The scope of the study is defined at the start of the study. It is used by researchers to set the boundaries and limitations within which the research study will be performed.

Choosing a good PhD supervisor will be paramount to your success as a PhD student, but what qualities should you be looking for? Read our post to find out.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

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An academic transcript gives a breakdown of each module you studied for your degree and the mark that you were awarded.

The term research instrument refers to any tool that you may use to collect, measure and analyse research data.

Jad is a 4th year PhD student at New York University Abu Dhabi/ New York. His project is title Smart Molecular Crystals: From Synthesis to Applications and has a particular interest in science communication.

Dr Williams gained her PhD in Chemical Engineering at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York in 2020. She is now a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University, researching simplifying vaccine manufacturing in low-income countries.

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Formatting Your Thesis or Dissertation with Microsoft Word

• Lists of Tables and Figures
• Introduction
• Copyright Page
• Dedication, Acknowledgements, & Preface
• Headings and Subheadings
• Citations and Bibliography
• Page Numbers
• Tables and Figures
• Rotated (Landscape) Pages
• Table of Contents
• List of Abbreviations
• Some Things to Watch For
• PDF with Embedded Fonts

Lists of tables and figures

Just like the table of contents, Microsoft Word can be used to automatically generate both a list of tables and a list of figures. Automatic generation of these lists has the same advantages as automatically generating the table of contents:

• You don't have to manually type the list of tables or the list of figures
• You don't have to go back and edit the lists if any of the figures or tables changes pages. A couple of clicks and Word will automatically update the list of tables or the list of figures for you.

Below is a tutorial demonstrating how to create the list of tables and the list of figures.

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Microsoft Word for Dissertations

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Automatic Lists of Figures and Tables

If you have captioned your figures, tables, and equations using Word’s captioning feature (see the  Captions tab in the left-side navigation of this Guide), you can have Word generate your lists for you automatically.

• In the References tab, click the Insert Table of Figures button  (use this for lists of tables or equations, too).
• In the window that appears, select the label for which you want to make a list from the Caption Label menu (such as "Equation", "Figure", or "Table").
• If you want to change the style of your table of contents (e.g. change the font, or you want more space between each item in the list), click on the Modify button, select the Table of Figures style, then click the Modify button to do so. Click OK when you are done.
• Click OK to insert your table of contents.  

Repeat these steps to insert other lists into your document (Rackham requires separate lists for tables, figures, and any other label you’ve used).  A List of Appendices is handled differently - see the Appendices section of this Guide for more information.

Including Figures and Supplemental Figures in the List of Figures

There are two ways to combine Figures AND Supplemental Figures in your List of Figures -- the easy way, and the complicated way. It comes down to how you want the list to be laid out. This goes for Tables and Supplemental Tables, too, of course.

The Easy Way

Use the Insert Caption tool to apply a Figure caption (just like you've been doing with your regular Figures) to each of your Supplemental Figures. Once you've got the caption in place, then just type the word "Supplemental" before "Figure X".  When you update it, the List of Figures will pull in "Supplemental Figure X" into the List.  The drawback is that the numbering for those Supplemental Figures will follow the numbering for your regular Figures, so you'll have:

Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2 Supplemental Figure 1.3 Figure 1.4

If you'd prefer the first Supplemental Figure to be numbered independently of the Figure numbering ("Supplemental Figure 1.1"), then things get a bit more complicated. We cover how to integrate figures and supplemental figures into one List of Figures in the section below.

How do I integrate figures and supplemental figures in the same List of Figures?

A recent email inquiry:

Several of my chapters have supplemental figures at the end that I would like to include in the List of Figures at the beginning of my thesis. Do you know how to include all captions labeled either "Supplemental Figure" or "Figure" in the same List of Figures, using Word styles? I know how to create a label for each type of figure, but not how to integrate those two different labels into one List, based on order of appearance in my dissertation. Right now, I have to create two Lists: Figures go in the first, and Supplemental Figures go in the second. I want to set it up so that Figure 1 is followed by Supplemental Figure 1, which is followed by Figure 2, all in the same List. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Our response:

The problem you're running into is that a "List of..." can only have captions representing one caption  label . We can have separate labels for "Figures" and "Supplemental Figures", but as you've found, you then have to have each of those two lists in your List of Figures, placed one after the other:

Figure 1.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Figure 1.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Figure 2.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Figure 2.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Supplemental Figure 1.1  . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Supplemental Figure 1.2  . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Supplemental Figure 2.1  . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Supplemental Figure 2.2  . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

To the reader, it wouldn't necessarily be apparent they are two lists, but looking at the page numbers you'll notice that they aren't in page order, as Rackham requires.

If you don't mind the Supplemental Figure numbers NOT starting over at 1, like this:

Figure 1.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Figure 1.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Supplemental Figure 1.3  . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Supplemental Figure 1.4  . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Figure 2.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Figure 2.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Supplemental Figure 2.3  . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Supplemental Figure 2.4  . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

then you can continue to use the Figure caption label for all of them, then manually type the word "Supplemental" before the word "Figure" in the caption itself. Update your List of Figures, and it will pull in the extra word you added, as above.

The real, but imperfect, solution:

But if you really want to have those supplemental figures interspersed among the other figures in your List of Figures and using their own numbering scheme, there's a way. The solution is tricky, it's a bit of a hack, and may be more trouble than it's worth...but you'll be the best judge of that.  The trick is to go ahead and create the two caption labels, and then we'll create one List that pulls in ALL captions -- which means this List will initially be cluttered with all your Table, Figure, Supplemental Figure, etc... captions -- a messy thing, but we did mention this solution was imperfect, but it gets the job done. Then – most importantly – we'll delete the lines that include captions for things we don't want in that particular List.

Start off by deleting any existing List of Figures you already have. Then:

1. Place your cursor where you want your integrated list of figures to be.

2. In the References tab, click Insert Table of Figures

3. In the window that appears, click Options...

5. Click OK to close the Table of Figures window.

That will create one list that includes ALL of your captions -- tables, figures, equations, supplemental figures -- everything. You now need to delete the things that shouldn't be there. A helpful tip is to hover your cursor in the empty 1" margin just to the left of the lines you want to delete (your cursor will change to a rightward-facing arrow) and click once to select a line. Click and drag down in the margin to select multiple lines. This can make it much easier to select things to delete.

This is something you should wait to do until just before you save it as a PDF or send it to a reviewer, because anytime you update that all-in-one List of Figures field, it'll pull EVERYTHING back in again ...and you'll have to delete the unwanted items again.

Obviously, this is a hack and could be a big job if there are a lot of captions to find and delete. There may be a more elegant way to do it, but we haven't found anything better yet, unfortunately. Perhaps you could create a brand new caption style, apply it to all your Figure and Supplemental Figure captions, and use this same trick to "Build table of figures from:" that new style -- but we haven't dug into that yet. Still pretty "hacky", but perhaps worth exploring if you're feeling adventurous.

We don't claim to know everything, so if you come across a simpler solution please let us know with an email to [email protected] .

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Tables in your dissertation

Published on November 2, 2016 by Kirsten Dingemanse . Revised on January 31, 2020.

Dissertations and theses often include tables. One advantage of tables is that they allow you to present data in a clear and concise manner without having to provide a lengthy explanation in the text. This is particularly helpful in sections such as your results chapter.

Table of contents

Step 1. decide where to insert a table, step 2. create your table, example of a table in apa style, step 3. assign your table a number and title, step 4. clarify your table with a note (optional), step 5. cite the table within the text, where should you add a table.

Tables are often included in the main body of a dissertation, so that readers can view them straight away. In this case, place the table immediately above or below the paragraph in which you introduce or refer to it.

If you are not allowed to include tables within your main text or your tables are very long, you can instead put them in an appendix to your dissertation. However, bear in mind that doing so might make your text less readable, as readers will always have to turn to an appendix . It’s thus better to include at least key tables in the main document.

Be careful. Never directly import tables from a statistical analysis program such as SPSS, as these tables provide too much detailed information. For instance, if you just want to report the results of a t-test from SPSS, your table likely does not need to include figures related to the standard mean error.

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All word processing programs include an option to create a table. For example, in Word’s top menu bar you can either click on the “Table” tab or select Insert -> Table -> New.

To keep your tables consistent, it’s important that you use the same formatting throughout your dissertation. For example, make sure that you always use the same line spacing (e.g., single vs. double), that the data is aligned the same way (namely center, left or right) and that your column and row headings always reflect the same style same (for example, bold).

If you are using Word, you can also opt to use one of the program’s pre-set table styles. Doing so will ensure that all of the tables throughout your dissertation have the same formatting. You can apply one of these styles by selecting the table and then selecting one of the preformatted “Table Styles.”

For examples of tables in MLA format , check our guide here .

Once you have decided where to incorporate a table, assign it a number (which should then be noted at the top of the table). Different numbering schemes can be used, but the easiest is to just use Table 1, Table 2 and so forth. Numbers will allow you to easily refer to the correct table within the text.

You can also set a table up so that Word automatically assigns it a number. We recommend that you do this, as it will ensure that your table numbers are always correct. For instance, if you add a new table in the middle of your dissertation, Word will automatically adjust the table numbers throughout the rest of the document. Using this Word feature also makes it easy to generate a list of tables .

Automatically numbering tables

To use automatic numbering, click on the tab ‘Reference’ and select ‘Insert Caption’.

Titling tables

It is important that you always give each table a title. If you use automatic table numbering, a table’s title will automatically be noted after its number.

A table title should be clear and comprehensive enough that it does not need to be explained in the text. Readers should be able to understand what a table contains solely on the basis of its title.

Make sure you also follow any title specifications that either your academic program or the citation style you are using dictates. For instance, in APA Style it is customary to put a table’s title under its number.

A note can be used for information that helps to clarify the data in a table. For example, you can specify p-values, define abbreviations or explain further details related to a particular row or column. If you don’t have anything special to convey (and the table is your own creation), you don’t need to include a note.

Table from another source

If you have taken a table from another source, it’s mandatory that you explain this in a note. However, how this should be done varies by citation style . Below we explain how you should handle a table from another source according to the APA Style .

The APA Style specifies that you should write “Reprinted from” or “Adapted from” followed by the title and complete source information of the book or article that you have taken the table from.

It is important that you always refer to your table in the text. This helps readers to understand why the table is included and ensures that you don’t have any “free-floating” tables in your dissertation. All tables should have a clear function.

When citing a table in your running text, mention the table’s number instead of using phrases such as “the table below” (which can create confusion for your readers).

A numbered table in the main document

The table below shows that…

Table 1 shows that…

When referring to a table in an appendix, include both the table number and the appendix number.

A numbered table in the appendix

Table 2 (see Appendix 1) shows that…

There is evidence that… (see Table 2, Appendix 1)

Cross-references

If you automate the numbering of your tables, you can choose to apply cross-references. This feature creates links in your text that lead directly to the corresponding table when clicked. The advantage of this is that the numbering is always correct.

In Word, cross-referencing can be activated by selecting Insert ->  Cross-Reference from the top menu bar. From there set the “Reference type” to “Table” and “Insert reference to” to whatever you wish to include (for example, the entire caption or only the table’s name and number). Then select the table to which you want to link and click “Insert”.

Checklist: Tables

Each table has a number.

Each table has a clear, descriptive title.

All tables are consistently formatted according to my style guide or department’s requirements.

The content of each table is clearly understandable in its own right.

I have referred to each table in the main text.

I have correctly cited the source of any tables reproduced or adapted from other authors.

Your tables look great! Use the other checklists to improve your thesis or dissertation.

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Dingemanse, K. (2020, January 31). Tables in your dissertation. Scribbr. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/tips/tables-in-your-dissertation/

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Sample Tables

These sample tables illustrate how to set up tables in APA Style . When possible, use a canonical, or standard, format for a table rather than inventing your own format. The use of standard formats helps readers know where to look for information.

There are many ways to make a table, and the samples shown on this page represent only some of the possibilities. The samples show the following options:

• The sample factor analysis table shows how to include a copyright attribution in a table note when you have reprinted or adapted a copyrighted table from a scholarly work such as a journal article (the format of the copyright attribution will vary depending on the source of the table).
• The sample regression table shows how to include confidence intervals in separate columns; it is also possible to place confidence intervals in square brackets in a single column (an example of this is provided in the Publication Manual ).
• The sample qualitative table and the sample mixed methods table demonstrate how to use left alignment within the table body to improve readability when the table contains lots of text.

Use these links to go directly to the sample tables:

Sample demographic characteristics table

Sample results of several t tests table, sample correlation table, sample analysis of variance (anova) table, sample factor analysis table, sample regression table, sample qualitative table with variable descriptions, sample mixed methods table.

These sample tables are also available as a downloadable Word file (DOCX, 37KB) . For more sample tables, see the Publication Manual (7th ed.) as well as published articles in your field.

Sample tables are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 7.21 and the Concise Guide Section 7.21

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Sociodemographic Characteristics of Participants at Baseline

Note. N = 150 ( n = 50 for each condition). Participants were on average 39.5 years old ( SD = 10.1), and participant age did not differ by condition.

a Reflects the number and percentage of participants answering “yes” to this question.

Results of Curve-Fitting Analysis Examining the Time Course of Fixations to the Target

Note. For each subject, the logistic function was fit to target fixations separately. The maximum asymptote is the asymptotic degree of looking at the end of the time course of fixations. The crossover point is the point in time the function crosses the midway point between peak and baseline. The slope represents the rate of change in the function measured at the crossover. Mean parameter values for each of the analyses are shown for the 9-year-olds ( n = 24) and 16-year-olds ( n = 18), as well as the results of t tests (assuming unequal variance) comparing the parameter estimates between the two ages.

Descriptive Statistics and Correlations for Study Variables

Means, Standard Deviations, and One-Way Analyses of Variance in Psychological and Social Resources and Cognitive Appraisals

*** p < .001.

Results From a Factor Analysis of the Parental Care and Tenderness (PCAT) Questionnaire

Note. N = 307. The extraction method was principal axis factoring with an oblique (Promax with Kaiser Normalization) rotation. Factor loadings above .30 are in bold. Reverse-scored items are denoted with an (R). Adapted from “Individual Differences in Activation of the Parental Care Motivational System: Assessment, Prediction, and Implications,” by E. E. Buckels, A. T. Beall, M. K. Hofer, E. Y. Lin, Z. Zhou, and M. Schaller, 2015, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 108 (3), p. 501 ( https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000023 ). Copyright 2015 by the American Psychological Association.

Moderator Analysis: Types of Measurement and Study Year

Note . Number of studies = 120, number of effects = 782, total N = 52,578. CI = confidence interval; LL = lower limit; UL = upper limit.

Master Narrative Voices: Struggle and Success and Emancipation

Integrated Results Matrix for the Effect of Topic Familiarity on Reliance on Author Expertise

Note . We integrated quantitative data (whether students selected a card about nuclear power or about climate change) and qualitative data (interviews with students) to provide a more comprehensive description of students’ card selections between the two topics.

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List of Tables, List of Figures

If even one numbered table or figure appears in your manuscript, then a List of Tables and/or a List of Figures must be included in your manuscript following the Table of Contents. If both are used, arrange the List of Tables before the List of Figures.

NOTE: The templates were created using the 2013 version of Microsoft Word. If a template is downloaded in another version of Word or another word processing program, the formatting may be incorrect. Also, if a template is copied and pasted into another document, the settings of that document (margins, page number settings, font style, etc.) may affect the look of the template.

• List of Tables template (DOC)

This Microsoft Word document can be saved to your computer to use as a template. It was created using Microsoft Office 2013 version of Word. Please email [email protected] if you have problems with the download.

• List of Figures template (DOC)

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Formatting Requirements

Tables, figures and illustrations, workday student support.

Graduate students can find "how to" guides and support information on our Workday support page .

Tables, figures, illustrations, and other such items should be identified with the word "Table", "Figure", or other appropriate descriptor, and include a title and/or caption. The title or caption must be included in the List of Tables, List of Figures, or other list.

You must use a consistent format for titles and captions of tables, figures, illustrations, and other such items throughout the thesis.

• lettering in tables and figures should be at least 2 mm high to ensure that the information is easy to read
• tables, figures, illustrations, and other such items must have titles or captions, and must be numbered
• titles or captions can go either above or below the table, figure, or illustration
• headings must be repeated on the second and subsequent pages of tables that split over two pages or more
• tables should be split at an appropriate place, e.g. just before a new subheading
• the format for titles and captions of tables, figures, illustrations, and other such items must be consistent throughout the thesis.

Tables, figures, illustrations and other such items must be numbered consecutively in order of appearance within the thesis.

There are two methods for numbering Tables, Figures and other items:

• sequentially throughout the thesis, e.g. 1, 2, 3…
• chapter number first, then numbered sequentially within each chapter, e.g.:

Tables in Chapter 1: Table 1.1, 1.2, 1.3…

Figures in Chapter 3: Figure 3.1, 3.2, 3.3…

Whichever method you choose, the numbering style must be the same for all numbered items; for example: Table 1.1 and Figure 1.3, or Table 1 and Figure 3, not Table 1 and Figure 1.3.

Tables and figures in the Appendices may be labelled A1, A2, etc.

There are three acceptable locations for tables and figures:

• within the chapter immediately following first reference to them
• grouped at the end of the relevant chapter
• grouped at the end of the thesis before the bibliography

Whichever method you choose, you must be consistent.

If your tables and figures are grouped at the end of the thesis, you must include an entry in the table of contents that directs the reader to their location.

If the caption for a figure, table, etc., will not fit on the same page as its accompanying illustration, place the illustration on a separate page.

Reproducing and Reducing

Copying and/or reducing the size of figures (e.g. charts, drawings, graphs, photographs, maps, etc.) may make certain images illegible. After reduction, all lettering must be large enough to fulfill the font size requirements, and must be clear and readable.

Copyrighted Material

If you remove copyrighted tables, figures, or illustrations from your thesis you must insert the following at the spot where the table, figure, or illustration previously appeared:

• A statement that the material has been removed because of copyright restrictions
• A description of the material and the information it contained, plus a link to an online source if one is available
• A full citation of the original source of the material

See the Theses and Dissertations Guide “ Unable to get Permission? ”

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• List of Tables

Tables in your document

• Use Times New Roman for text in the tables.  Use size 12 where able, but 10 or 11 size may also be used to fit text within the table.  Line spacing within a table should be single-spaced.
• All tables should be labeled and formatted in APA style with numbering, title, notes, borders, etc.  
• Tables should be placed after the paragraph where they are first mentioned.  If a table continues is very large, it can start on the next page after it is mentioned.  If your charge is longer than one page, type Table 1 (Continued) at the top of the next page and be sure the table headings are repeated.
• References in your text to tables must reference a specific table and number, for example: "As demonstrated in Table 3..." Do not use, "As demonstrated in the following table...."
• You are to reference your table in the paragraph immediately preceding or following the location of the table.
• If your table needs to be rotated because it is too large, rotate just the table with the top of the table at the 1.5" margin side.
• Repeat the headings if your table has to continue on a new page.
• The titles of your tables should be italicized throughout the paper.
• Tables within the appendix need to have the appendix section and table number. For example, Table A.1, refers to the first table in appendix A.

Note:  you only flip your table when it is too wide.  In the event that you do continue your table on a new page, be sure to label the table.  For example, insert "Table 2 (continued)" on the new page.

List of Tables page

• Required if there are two or more tables in your document including the appendices.
• Type List of Tables on the top line. Be sure to label this title as a page title heading to format it properly. See Content/Chapters for more information about headings.
• Leave the next line blank.
• Type Page (#), tab once, type Table 1: Title of Table One.
• If your page number is a single digit, you will need to tab twice so that all table names are aligned.
• List each table on a new line.
• If your title is so long it goes onto another line, indent that line to match where all table names start.
• If you have tables in the appendix, be sure to add them on this list.   Do not bold or italicize.

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• Certificate of Approval
• Acknowledgments
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Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Create and Update a List of Tables or Figures in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright

We will also look at how to update the list as you add, move, or delete tables or figures.

Terminology Note: This tutorial uses the terms list of tables and list of figures , which are common terms in the publishing industry. However, Word refers to a list of tables or figures as a table of figures .

This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 200 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel .

The images below are from Word in Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). The steps are the same in Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013. However, your interface may look different in those older versions of the software.

How to Create a List of Tables or Figures

Remember that these steps will only work if you used Word’s caption tool to number your tables or figures before creating the list.

• Insert your cursor where you want to place your list.
• Select the References tab in the ribbon.

• Select Insert Table of Figures from the Captions group.

• Select a visual style from the Formats menu in the Table of Figures dialog box. (The From Template option is based on the styles established in your current template.)

• Select Figure or Table from the Caption label menu. (There is no option for listing figures and tables together.)

• Ensure that Include label and number is checked if you want the label (i.e., Figure or Table ) and the number to be included in the list. (Recommended)

• (Optional Step) Select additional options concerning page numbers and the tab leaders, which are the dots, dashes, or lines that appear before the page numbers.

Pro Tip: The Web Preview section shows how your list will look if you convert your Word file to a web page.

• Select the OK button.

• Manually type a title above your list.

• Save your file to save your changes.

The next section shows how to update a list of tables or figures.

How to Update a List of Tables or Figures

Word will not automatically update your list as you add or delete tables or figures. Instead, you can manually trigger updates, as necessary.

• Right-click the list and select Update Field from the shortcut menu.

• Select Update entire table from the Update Table of Figures dialog box.

Your updates should appear immediately.

Important Note: Word’s caption tool, which inserts table titles and figure captions , will automatically number new tables and figures as you add titles and captions (e.g., Table 1, Table 2, Table 3). However, Word will not automatically update the numbering if you move or delete tables or figures.

See “ How to Update Table and Figure Numbers in Microsoft Word ” to learn how to force an update after moving or deleting a table or figure.

Related Resources

How to Create and Customize Charts in Microsoft Word

How to Insert and Modify Images in Microsoft Word

Three Ways to Insert Tables in Microsoft Word

How to Change the Style of Table Titles and Figure Captions in Microsoft Word

How to Cross-Reference Tables and Figures in Microsoft Word

How to Reference Tables and Figures in Text

Updated December 14, 2022

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List Of Figures And Tables For Your Dissertation

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The list of figures and tables in a research paper , thesis, or dissertation provides a structured overview of graphic elements included in the paper. This list guides readers to find specific graphs, images, tables, or charts effortlessly. The process of compiling this list needs more than just listing the captions; it also requires proper formatting and sequencing in line with academic guidelines. This article explores creating a well-structured list of figures and tables with examples.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 List of Figures and Tables – In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: List of figures and tables
• 3 Creating the list of figures and tables in Word
• 4 Example list of figures and tables
• 5 List of figures and tables: Additional lists

List of Figures and Tables – In a Nutshell

The American Psychological Association publishes the APA style guide, which aims to:

• Facilitate concise academic and scholarly communication worldwide.
• Act as a reference for the various components and conventions of scientific and technical writing.
• Improve the readability of documents.

Definition: List of figures and tables

Tables show numerical values or text arranged in rows and columns. In contrast, figures typically consist of graphs, illustrations, or drawings.

The APA style guide defines figures as graphical displays other than tables, including photographs, graphics, charts, and non-textual information.

Suppose a dissertation contains one or more tables or figures. In that case, the APA guide specifies including a list of figures and tables as appropriate.

Every list of figures and tables includes a tabulated, numerical enumeration of the titles of each relevant item. This uniform and consistent approach enables dissertation readers – including examiners – to quickly scan and locate the sources, findings, and key points in long documents.

By following APA recommendations to make a list of figures and tables, college and university students can present their dissertations correctly.

List of Tables

Table 1             Title of Table One ……………………………………………………………………………..2 Table 2             Title of Table Two .…………………………………………………………………………….3 Table 3             Title of Table ‘Three ………………………………………………………………………….3

List of Figures

Figure 1            Title of Figure One …………………………………………………………………………..4 Figure 2            Title of Figure Two …………………………………………………………………………..5 Figure 3            Title of Figure Three ………………………………………………………………………..5

This article will delve into how to include a list of figures and tables in APA style in your dissertation.

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Creating the list of figures and tables in Word

Creating a list of figures and tables is straightforward in most word processing software, such as Microsoft Word.

• Firstly, we must add captions to each figure or table. The figure number goes in bold above the figure (e.g. Figure 1). Then, the figure title appears as one double-spaced line below the figure number in italics in title case, i.e. with the first letter of major words capitalized.
• Next, use the command on the “References” menu to complete the detailed settings you require. On confirming, the software will create the list sorted by page number and include it in your document.

Note: It is essential to eschew plagiarism if you are creating a list of figures and tables based on copying from another document.

Also, remember that the source document settings and format may affect how the table looks in your new paper: font style, page number conventions, margin widths, etc.

• Firstly, we must add captions to each figure or table. The figure number goes in bold above the figure (e.g., Figure 1). Then, the figure title appears as one double-spaced line below the figure number in italics in title case, i.e., with the first letter of major words capitalized.

Further information on formatting standards for a list of figures and tables are on pages 225 to 250 of the APA Publication Manual 7th Edition (2020).

Example list of figures and tables

List of figures and tables: Additional lists

Other lists you might consider including in a dissertation are:

• A list of abbreviations
• A table of contents

After the title, approval signature, and copyright page(s) as applicable, we recommend you arrange the pages of a dissertation in the following order:

• Table of Contents

Occasionally, research results or lengthy analyses may extend to hundreds of rows. Instead of including all the detail, a clickable link or URL (universal resource locator) to an online version may be preferable.

We recommend opting for a data repository or an arXiv location, as privately hosted websites may change or disappear.

Best practice guidelines advocate the long-term availability of datasets for at least five years after publication. 2 Resources such as nature.com publish details of storage options by scientific field.

How do you list tables in a dissertation?

Your list of figures and tables comes after the table of contents. If both lists are present, the list of titles appears before the list of figures.

What are figure keys?

Figure legends (also known as keys) explain uncommon symbols used in the figure image. They should appear within the borders of the figure.

What are figure notes?

Figure notes explain, describe, clarify, or supplement the information in the image. Only some figures include notes, as and when necessary.

Where do I position notes for figures or tables?

According to the APA style guide, notes appear below the figure or table. Use double line spacing and left justification.

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Main navigation, section-specific, list of tables.

Link: List of Tables

The List of Tables is similar to a Table of Contents, in that it identifies all of the tables in the manuscript, along with their respective page numbers. If your thesis/dissertation contains one or more tables, a List of Tables is required. 

Setting Up Tabs

• Create the "List of Tables" heading (2" from the top of the page, styled as a 1st level heading).
• Set page spacing to single-spaced.
• Click on the bottom right of the Paragraph tab to open the Paragraph Settings window.
• Click on the Tabs button at the bottom left of the window.
• Set the first tab to 0.75" (Align LEFT ; Leader NONE ).
• Set a final indent to 6.5" (Align RIGHT ; Leader DOTTED - if you want to have a dotted leader line).
• Click Save on the Tabs window and then close the Paragraph settings window.
• Click and move the right indent to 6.0" so that any long headers will wrap to the next line.

General Formatting

• Line Spacing: Single-spaced (with a single-spaced line added before all new table listings)
• Page Number: Lowercase Roman numeral (continued from Table of Contents)

Section Heading Formatting

• All 1st-order headings must be 2" from the top edge of the page and must be styled consistently.

Content Formatting

• All table captions (titles) must match verbatim (word-for-word) to those used in the body of manuscript. (Include only the first sentence of each table caption.)
• All tables are numbered consecutively using a consistent style.
• Titles should break 0.5" before the right margin to prevent overcrowding of page numbers.
• The "Table #" should be against the left margin while the name/title/caption of the table should be indented either 0.75" or 1". All lines of the caption must be indented the same. See the above example for help.
• All page numbers associated with table titles must correspond to the correct location in the body of the manuscript.
• All page numbers must be right-aligned with the 1" right margin.
• Tables from the Appendices section are listed using Arabic numbers that are different from those in the body. (i.e.: Table 1A, Table 2A, or Table A1, Table A2, etc.)