How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

How to arrange tabular material
How to design effective tables
Preparing the tables and figures

Having decided to tabulate, you ask yourself the question: “How do I arrange the data?” Since a table has both left-right and up-down dimensions, you have two choices: The data can be presented either horizontally or vertically. But can does not mean should; the data should be organized so that the like elements read down, not across.

Examine Tables 16.6 and 16.7. They are equivalent, except that Table 16.6 reads across, whereas Table 16.7 reads down. Table 16.7 is the preferred format because it allows the reader to grasp the information more easily, and it is more compact and thus less expensive to print. The point about ease for the reader would seem to be obvious. (Did you ever try to add numbers that were listed horizontally rather than vertically?) The point about reduced printing costs refers to the fact that all columns must be wide or deep in the across arrangement because of the diversity of elements, whereas some columns (especially those with numbers) can be narrow without runovers in the down arrangement. Thus, Table 16.7 appears to be smaller than Table 16.6, although it contains the same information.

Table 16.6. Characteristics of Antibiotic-Producing Streptomyces

aPronounced “Rumley” by the British.

Table 16.7. Characteristics of Antibiotic-Producing Streptomyces

aWhere the flying fishes play.

Words in a column are lined up on the left. Numbers are lined up on the right (or on the decimal point). Table 16.7, for example, illustrates this point.

Table 16.8 is an example of a well-constructed table. It reads down, not across. Its title and headings are clear enough for readers to understand the data without referring to the text. Items in the body of the table appear in a logical order. The footnote provides supplementary information on how the data were obtained rather than repeating excessive methodological detail.

Table 16.8. Hospitalizations and Total Charges for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Malaria, United States, 2003—2012*

*National estimates were determined from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample by using diagnostic codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification. A complete list of ICD-9-CM codes used in this study is provided in the online Technical Appendix (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/EID/article/21/6/14-1324-Techapp1.pdf).

Source: O’Neal SE, Flecker RH. Hospitalization frequency and charges for neurocysticercosis, United States, 2003—2012. Emerg. Infect. Dis.21:969-976, 2015. Available at wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/6/14-1324_article. Accessed August 27, 2015.

Note that these tables have three horizontal rules (lines) but no vertical rules. Virtually all tables are constructed this way. Occasionally, straddle rules (as below “Hospitalizations” and “Total charges” in Table 16.8) are used. Vertical rules normally are not used in tables at all.