11.15 Tables and graphs

If you are conveying two or three short pieces of statistical information, incorporate them into a sentence in the text. Show more extensive information in the form of a table or, in order to highlight relationships and trends, in the form of a chart, graph or diagram. Significant aspects of the tables or charts should be interpreted in the text. Create tables and charts using the appropriate functions in your word-processing or spreadsheet program, and insert them as soon as possible after the paragraphs in which they are mentioned.

Follow these guidelines on form and content:

• Limit the amount of data in graphs and tables to essentials.
• Keep the display simple, with clear and concise headings (column heads) at the top of each column.
• If symbols are being used, place them at the head of each column.
• Singular forms are preferred in the column heads, e.g. Country of origin, Currency.
• Currency symbols can be placed before the first entry of each column, but do not repeat unit designations.
• With large sums, space can be saved by placing a notation such as

  (in thousands)
  or
  ($000)
  directly beneath the column head.

• Explain abbreviations in the reference notes.
• Be consistent in the use of capitalization, fonts, italics and spacing in tables and charts.
• Make sure that bar and pie charts are visually accurate and that tables add up.
• Place footnotes for tables immediately below the graphic presentation and indicate them with a superscript number, letter or symbol (see 9.23 Footnotes).
• Give a source reference at the end of the table, where appropriate.

Consult Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers¹ for further information on tables, graphs and illustrations.

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The model table below illustrates many of the recommendations made in this section:

Table A

Foreign Currencies: Codes and Values

• Back to the note² Source: International Standard ISO 4217.
• Back to the note³ Source: Bank of Montreal, March 6, 1996.
• Back to the note⁴ Official/restricted rate.

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