A-manual-for-writers-of-research-papers-theses-and-dissertations

Insert full-width horizontal rules to separate the title from the column heads (see 26.2.4),the column heads from the body of the table, and the body of the table from footnotes. Arule above a row of totals is traditional but not essential. Two-column tables within the textare best set with no rules, as long as the column heads are set off typographically.Use partial-width horizontal rules to indicate which column heads and columns aregoverned by special types of heads, if you use them (see 26.2.4, table 26.2).Leave enough space between columns to avoid using internal vertical or other horizontalrules. Do not use vertical rules to enclose the table in a box. For a long and narrow tablepositioned in side-by-side format (see 26.1.2), however, use a vertical rule to separate thetwo halves.Avoid using shading in place of rules, except in long or complex tables (see 8.3.2). Alsoavoid color. Even if you print the paper on a color printer, it may be printed or copied lateron a black-and-white machine, and if it is a dissertation, it may be microfilmed. Shadingand color do not reproduce well in any of these forms. If you use shading, make sure itdoes not obscure the text of the table, and do not use multiple shades, which might notreproduce distinctly.26.2.4 Column HeadsA table must have at least two columns, each with a head or heading at the top that names thedata in the column below.Use noun phrases for column heads. Keep them short (or set them to wrap, as in tables26.1 and 26.2) to avoid an excessively wide table.Make column heads singular or plural depending on the data below. Stub heads, ifpresent, are usually singular (see 26.2.5).Capitalize column heads sentence style (see 22.3.1).Align stub heads flush left; center other column heads over the widest entry in thecolumn below. Align the bottom of all heads horizontally.If your data are complex, you may need to include special types of heads in addition to thecolumn heads. Such a head may apply to two or more columns of data. Center the head overthe relevant columns with a partial-width horizontal rule beneath (and, if necessary, above) it.Table 26.2 shows heads both above (“1950”) and below (“Provincial Assembly”) the columnheads.Heads may have explanatory tags to clarify or to indicate the unit of measure for data in thecolumn below. Enclose such tags in parentheses. You may use abbreviations and symbols forsuch tags (mpg, km, lb., %, $M, and so on), but be consistent within and among your tables.Responses (%)Pesos (millions)