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

either in the caption or, if there are many, in a list of abbreviations in your paper's frontmatter (see A.2.1).Label lines, data points, or other items within the chart or graph that require explanationusing either all lowercase letters (for single words) or sentence-style capitalization (forphrases). If phrases and single words both appear, they should all be styled the same (as infig. 8.3). The other principles described above for axis labels also apply to labels of thistype.Avoid shading and color. Even if you print the paper on a color printer, it may be printedor copied later on a black-and-white machine, and the shading and color might notreproduce well. If you use shading, make sure it does not obscure the text of the figure, anddo not use multiple shades, which might not reproduce distinctly.26.3.2 Figure Numbers and CaptionsIn general, every figure in your paper should have a number and a caption. If you include onlya few figures in your paper and do not specifically refer to them in the text, omit the numbers.Figure captions may be presented in a smaller typeface than the rest of your text; consult yourlocal guidelines.On the line below the figure, write the word Figure (flush left, capitalized, in roman type),followed by the figure number (in arabic numerals), followed by a period. After a space, givethe caption, usually followed by a terminal period (but see below). If a caption runs onto morethan one line, the runovers should be flush left, single-spaced.Figure 6. The Great Mosque of Cordoba, eighth to tenth century.In musical examples only, place the figure number and caption above the figure.FIGURE NUMBERS. Number figures separately from tables, in the order in which you mentionthem in the text. If you have only a few figures, number them consecutively throughout thepaper, even across chapters. If you have many figures and many chapters, use doublenumeration: that is, the chapter number, followed by a period, followed by the figure number,as in Figure 12.4.When you refer to a figure in the text, specify the figure number (“in figure 3”) rather thanits location (“below”) because you may end up moving the figure while editing or formattingthe paper. Do not capitalize the word figure in text references to figures, and do not abbreviateit as fig. except in parenthetical references—for example, “(see fig. 10).”FIGURE CAPTIONS. Figure captions are more varied than table titles. In some cases, captionscan consist solely of a noun phrase, capitalized sentence style (see 22.3.1), without a terminalperiod.Figure 9. Mary McLeod Bethune, leader of the Black Cabinet during this eraMore complex captions begin with a noun phrase followed by one or more complete