As an engineer, your tables and figures are often the most important part of your document. CMOS has strict rules for how these are labeled and placed.
Placement: Insert the table or figure as soon as possible after it is first mentioned in the text.
Numbering: Use a simple sequence (Table 1, Table 2) or a chapter-based sequence (Table 1.1, Table 1.2).
Captions:
Tables: The title goes ABOVE the table.
Figures: The title/caption goes BELOW the figure.
Source Notes: If the data or image is not yours, you must include a source note (e.g., Source: Data adapted from Smith 2023) directly below the element.