Figures & Illustrations

Tables & Figures

(MLA 9th)

According to the MLA Handbook, 9th edition, tables in academic writing should follow these formatting guidelines:

• Placement: Position tables and illustrations as close as possible to the part of the text they relate to.

• Reference: Refer to any figure or table in the text of your essay so that it doesn’t just appear without context.

  • “As shown in Fig. 2, the rate of…”

  • “Table 1 illustrates the relationship between…”

  • "(see Fig. 1)."

• Tables:

  • Label with Table and an Arabic numeral. 

    • In the caption, write "Table" in bold typeface.

    • In the text, write "Table" in normal (not bold) typeface.

  • Provide a title; place both label and title flush left on separate lines above the table.

  • Capitalize label and title in title style (avoid ALL CAPS).

  • Place source information and notes directly below the table in a caption.

  • Use lowercase letters (not numbers) for table notes to avoid confusion with text notes.

  • Double-space throughout; use dividing lines as needed.

• Figures/Illustrations (photographs, maps, charts, drawings, graphs, etc.):

  • Label with Figure (abbreviated Fig.) and an Arabic numeral.

    • In the caption, write "Figure" and "Fig." in bold typeface.

    • In the text, write "Figure" and "Fig." in normal (not bold) typeface.

  • Provide a caption directly below the figure.

  • Maintain one-inch margins, consistent with the paper’s text.

  • If the caption gives full source details and the source is not cited in the text, no separate works-cited entry is required.

  • When full bibliographic details are included in the caption:

    • Follow works-cited style, but do not invert the author’s or artist’s name.

  • If the caption does not include full details, separate elements with commas instead.

Figures & Illustrations

(MLA Citation Example)

Blake explores "contrary states" in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Blake draws on his own childhood, suffering, creativity,  social inequality, and spirituality to argue and illustrate how contrary structures serve as the formative principle of the universe. The movement of his illustrations results in a synthesis (i.e., not contraries). The movement of his illustrations results in a synthesis (i.e. not contraries) and the contraries ultimately remain polarized. Blake's technique of relief-etching text