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Learn where APA table titles, figure captions, notes, and source citations go. Includes placement examples, a worked example, and four practice tasks with checks.
Writing and Handwriting Paper Guides
This reference sheet shows how to lay out APA-style tables and figures on a page, with emphasis on where the number, title, caption, notes, and source citation belong. It covers placement examples for tables and figures, a blank drafting template described in text, and practice tasks you can solve from the instructions alone. The focus is layout and citation placement, not general paper writing or grammar. All measurements are hypothetical examples; measure your own equipment before printing. Use the convention below for any handwriting or art checks: x-height is measured from baseline to midline, and letter styles may vary, so accept any legible style that meets the stated spacing and alignment rules.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
Place a table number in bold above the table body, flush left. On the next line, place the table title in italic title case, flush left. The table body follows. Below the body, place general notes, specific notes, and probability notes in that order, each beginning with the appropriate label. A source citation appears in a note below the table, not inside the table body, unless the citation is part of the table content itself.
Keep the table number and title together with the table body on the same page when possible. If a table must continue, repeat the number and add a continuation label such as Table 1 (continued), then repeat the column headings. Do not place a table title above the page header or inside the body rows.
Place a figure number in bold above the figure, flush left. On the next line, place the figure title in italic title case, flush left. The figure image follows. Below the image, place the figure note, including any source citation. A figure caption in APA style is the combination of the number, title, and note; do not add a separate caption line below the note.
If the figure is wider than the text column, reduce it proportionally and keep the number and title aligned with the figure's left edge. Do not wrap text around the figure. Keep the note directly below the image with no blank line that could be mistaken for a page break.
A blank drafting template can be described as a page with four horizontal zones. Zone 1 is the top margin area for the table or figure number. Zone 2 is directly below for the title. Zone 3 is the body or image area. Zone 4 is the note area for general, specific, probability notes, and source citation. Label each zone lightly in pencil before drafting, then erase the zone labels.
For a table template, draw a grid with column headings in the first row. For a figure template, draw a rectangle for the image and a line below for the note. Use the same zone order for both. This template is planned as a printable guide; it is not yet built, so use the text description to draft on plain paper.
Example table placement: Table 2 in bold at the top left, then a title in italic title case, then the body, then a general note beginning with Note. followed by a source citation. Example figure placement: Figure 3 in bold at the top left, then a title in italic title case, then the image, then a note beginning with Note. followed by a source citation. In both examples, the citation sits below the body or image, never above the number.
Check alignment by measuring from the left edge of the text column to the number and title. Both should start at the same left position. Check that the note begins at the same left position as the table body or figure image. If you use handwriting, measure x-height from baseline to midline and keep line spacing consistent; letter styles may vary, so judge legibility and alignment rather than a single letterform.
Draft a placement plan for a table titled 'Mean Scores by Group' with a source citation. State where each element goes.
Top left: Table 1 in bold. Next line, flush left: Mean Scores by Group in italic title case. Below: table body with column headings. Below body: Note. followed by the source citation. No citation above the number; no title inside the body.
A draft shows 'Table 4' in bold, then a title in italic title case, then the body, then 'Note. Source: Example.' below the body. Is the placement correct?
Yes.
Why: The number is bold and above, the title is italic title case below the number, the body follows, and the note with source is below the body.
Check: Verify each element's position against the four-zone order: number, title, body, note.
A draft shows a figure image, then 'Figure 2' in bold below the image, then a title in italic title case, then a note. What is wrong?
The figure number and title are below the image; they must be above the image.
Why: APA figure placement puts the number and title above the image, with the note below.
Check: Check that the number and title appear above the image and the note below.
A table draft has the source citation inside the first body cell and no note below. Fix the placement.
Remove the citation from the body cell and place it in a note below the table body.
Why: Source citations belong in the note area, not inside body cells.
Check: Confirm the body cell contains only data and the note area contains the citation.
A figure draft has a note below the image and then an extra caption line below the note. Fix the layout.
Delete the extra caption line; keep only the number, title, image, and note.
Why: The caption is the number, title, and note together; a separate caption line is redundant and misplaced.
Check: Check that no line appears below the note and that the note is the last element.
In the note area below the table body, usually in a general or specific note, not inside a body cell.
No. The caption is the number, title, and note together; do not add a separate caption line below the note.
Keep them together when possible. If the table continues, repeat the number with a continuation label and repeat column headings.
Measure x-height from baseline to midline and check that number, title, body, and note share the same left starting position. Accept any legible letter style.