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MLA Guide for Word 2019

Figures, Tables, and Illustrations

To cite tables and figures in-text, use the following format:

Standard segments typically run against the grain (table 1).

We left town before the flood (fig. 2).

The actual figures, tables, and illustrations should appear as close as possible to the parts of the text to which they relate. Tables should be labeled Table, given a number, and titled. Photographs, charts, graphs, maps, etc should be labeled Figure, assigned a number, and a caption.

For tables, provide the following information in the following order:

  1. Label and number (example: Table 1)
  2. Title of table using Title capitalization rules.
  3. The table itself, flush-left
  4. Source of the table and any notes in a caption immediately below the table. 
For figures, provide the following information in the following order:
  1. The figure itself
  2. Label and number. Note that "figure" is typically abbreviated as "fig." (example:  Fig. 2.)
  3. A caption, using normal sentence capitalization rules. 

If the caption of a table or figure provides complete information about the source and the source is not cited in the text, no entry is needed for the source is the works-cited list.