Guidelines

• Data in a table that would require only two or fewer columns and rows should be presented in the text.
• Data to be compared must be presented next to one another (before/after, young/old, male/female, etc.).
• Statistical information (means, standard deviations, N values) must be presented in separate parts of the table.
• If possible, use canonical forms (such as ANOVA, regression, or correlation) to communicate your data effectively.

Numbers

• Number all tables with Arabic numerals sequentially.
• Do not use suffix letters (e.g. Table 3a, 3b, 3c); instead, combine the related tables.
• If the paper includes an appendix with tables, identify them with capital letters and Arabic numerals (e.g. Table A1, Table B2).

Titles

• Each table must have a clear and concise title.
• Titles should be written in italicized title case below the table number, with a blank line between the number and the title. 
• When appropriate, you may use the title to explain an abbreviation parenthetically.

Example:

• Comparison of Median Income of Adopted Children (AC) v. Foster Children (FC)

Headings

• Keep headings clear and brief.
• The heading should not be much wider than the widest entry in the column.
• Use of standard abbreviations can aid in achieving that goal.

Types of Headings

• Stub headings describe the lefthand column, or stub column, which usually lists major independent variables.
• Column headings describe entries below them, applying to just one column.
• Column spanners are headings that describe entries below them, applying to two or more columns which each have their own column heading. Column spanners are often stacked on top of column headings and together are called decked heads.
• Table Spanners cover the entire width of the table, allowing for more divisions or combining tables with identical column headings. They are the only type of heading that may be plural.

Borders

• Tables should only include borders and lines that are needed for clarity (i.e., between elements of a decked head, above column spanners, separating total rows, etc.). 
• Do not use vertical borders, and do not use borders around each cell. 
• Spacing and strict alignment is typically enough to clarify relationships between elements.

Table Checklist

(Taken from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed., Section 7.20)

• Is the table necessary?
• Does it belong in the print and electronic versions of the article, or can it go in an online supplemental file?
• Are all comparable tables presented consistently?
• Are all tables numbered with Arabic numerals in the order they are mentioned in the text? Is the table number bold and left-aligned?
• Are all tables referred to in the text?
• Is the title brief but explanatory? Is it presented in italicized title case and left-aligned?
• Does every column have a column heading? Are column headings centered?
• Are all abbreviations; special use of italics, parentheses, and dashes; and special symbols explained?
• Are the notes organized according to the convention of general, specific, probability?
• Are table borders correctly used (top and bottom of table, beneath column headings, above table spanners)?
• Does the table use correct line spacing (double for the table number, title, and notes; single, one and a half, or double for the body)?
• Are entries in the left column left-aligned beneath the centered stub heading? Are all other column headings and cell entries centered?
• Are confidence intervals reported for all major point estimates?
• Are all probability level values correctly identified, and are asterisks attached to the appropriate table entries? Is a probability level assigned the same number of asterisks in all the tables in the same document?
• If the table or its data are from another source, is the source properly cited? Is permission necessary to reproduce the table?