Tables and Figures that Tell a Story

In medical writing, we often get asked from client Subject Matter Experts (SME)s about the format of tables and figures in nonclinical and clinical documents. Is the caption placed above or below the table? Should the table be a certain font? Are abbreviations necessary to define in each table and figure?   

Acumen medical writers follow the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style for table and figure configuration. The general AMA rule for tables and figures is that they are to be configured to be interpretable independently, without requiring undue reference to the text. Tables and figures show relationships among data and other types of numerical, textual, or visual information. When used properly, tables and figures help to make data interpretation more concise, add variety to document layout, and are visually compelling.  

Below are a few basic AMA rules and tips applicable to all tables and figures in medical writing:  

• Tables are used to present large amounts of data, while figures are used to highlight patterns or trends in data  

• Abbreviations must be defined in the footnotes in each figure and table (even if defined in text or in previous table or figure)  

• Each table or figure should have a caption and a title which is a phrase, and not a sentence  

• Footnotes may contain information about the entire table, portions of the table, or a discrete table entry  

• Common uses of footnotes include the following:   

  • Defining abbreviations  

  • Designating the reporting of numerical values  

  • Providing information on statistical analyses or experimental methods  

  • Explaining a discrepancy in numerical data   

  • Citing references or sources for information used in the table/figure 

Mahin Arastu

Lead Medical Writer