Design of figures and tables in a term paper

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No student’s term paper goes without figures and tables, as such elements allow for a more holistic, accurate, and even engaging understanding of the material. Therefore, writing a term paper is only half the battle; it also needs to be properly formatted, and to do it correctly, a considerable amount of time and effort is required.

Including figures and tables in a term paper can be an important step in conveying information and presenting the results of your research. However, for figures and tables to be effective, they need to be properly formatted. In this article, we will go over several steps to help you do this. You will learn how to format tables in a term paper, figures, and also find examples of table formatting in a term paper.

Formatting Figures in a Term Paper

The formatting of figures in each term paper may vary depending on your institution’s requirements and academic field, but there are some general rules to follow when formatting figures:

1. The first step in properly formatting a figure is choosing the correct format, as figures should be clear and easily readable. It is recommended to use high-quality graphic formats, such as JPEG or PNG;
2. The size of the figure should be convenient for perception and not deviate from established requirements;
3. Each figure in a term paper should have a title and a number. The title should be short and accurately reflect the content of the element. The number is added to track figures and refer to them in the text. For example, “Fig. 1: ‘Relationships with peers’”;
4. Figures should be placed in the term paper according to the text so that readers can easily find the images. There should be a line space between illustrations and the text for better perception. Figures should be inserted where they are mentioned.
   • Consider placing figures on separate pages if they take up a lot of space or require a more detailed description;
5. If using someone else’s material, such as photos, charts, etc., you must indicate the source of the image. This is done as follows:
   1. In the text:If the figure is inserted into the document, the following caption is written under it:
      Fig. 1 – Energy system diagram [5]
      where [5] is the source number in the bibliography.
      If you refer directly in the text, you can write:
      “…the structure is shown in Fig. 1 [5]”.
   2. In the caption under the figure:Include the title and source:
      Fig. 2 – District map (source: [6])
      If it is an online resource, you can fully write:
      Fig. 3 – Company logo (source: example.com)
      or include it in the reference list as:
      6. Example.com. URL: https://example.com.
   3. In the reference list:If the source is online, it is formatted approximately as:
      GOST 7.0.5–2008:
      Shevchenko I. I. System Structure // Energy Journal. 2021. URL: https://example.com (accessed: 03.09.2025).
   4. Directly on the figure:To indicate the source directly on the figure, in Word or another text editor, click on the figure and then press CTRL+K, then enter the link to the original source, which can be obtained by right-clicking the figure (original source) and selecting “Copy link to image”.

Following these tips will help make your term paper more professional and understandable for instructors and the committee. Keep in mind that the number of illustrations in a thesis is determined only by the content of your work, so such elements should be used to maintain balance—not too many, but not too few either.

Formatting: How to Properly Format Tables in a Term Paper

Tables are an important part of a term paper, as they help better understand and evaluate your work. Below are some tips for properly formatting tables in a term paper:

1. Follow formatting standards. First, ensure that the table format complies with the term paper formatting requirements established by your advisor or institution. Each university has recommendations on how to format tables in term papers.
2. Place the table immediately after its first mention in the text;
3. Each table should have a short and clear caption explaining the table content. It should be placed above the table and include a title and number. For example: “Table 1. Average number of library visitors per day in January 2023”;
4. Data in the table should be formatted so it is easy to understand which data corresponds to which categories. Use clearly marked column and row headers. Remember that header names in a term paper table should always be singular. The font should be black only, size not less than 10;
5. If data in the table were obtained from other sources, you must add references to these sources. For example, “Data is provided according to the study [study/source name] conducted in 2022” — an important aspect of table formatting in a term paper.
6. Usually, tables should not use colored fonts. Italics and underlining are also not allowed, though you can clarify this with your advisor.

A good term paper is not only text but also the correct formatting of tables and figures. Following these requirements will make your work coherent and successful at the defense.

Common Mistakes When Formatting Tables in a Thesis and How to Avoid Them

When formatting tables in term papers and theses, students often make mistakes that can negatively affect the evaluation by their supervisor regarding adherence to methodological requirements. Common mistakes include:

• The table text font does not match the established standards.
• Using different fonts for tables in the document.
• Failure to indicate measurement units in numerical or combined tables.
• Placing a table several pages after it is mentioned in the text.
• Not indicating the data source for the table.
• When a table continues on the next page, “Table continued…” is not noted.
• The table contains secondary information unrelated to the research topic.
• The table exceeds the page margins.

Recommendations to avoid table formatting mistakes in a term paper:

• Carefully study the table formatting requirements in methodological guidelines.
• Use a consistent font and line spacing for all tables in the paper.
• Place tables immediately after their mention in the text.
• Try to fit the table on one page to avoid page breaks when editing the text.
• Create tables only to summarize important information and highlight research results.
• Always indicate measurement units.

Following these recommendations ensures high-quality table formatting in a thesis and demonstrates the student’s attentiveness and responsibility in completing the work.