Tables, Figures, and Captions

Captions aren’t just a formality — they make it clear what your table or figure shows. Numbered captions help readers refer to specific visuals in your text, and allow you to create a List of Tables or List of Figures automatically.

Correct layout also prevents common problems like tables breaking across pages or images moving around unexpectedly. It improves readability and ensures your document looks professional.

Good captions and layout are also important for accessibility — especially for screen reader users who rely on clear labels and descriptions.

Problems often happen when students add tables and figures by hand instead of using Word’s built-in tools.

Common examples include:

• typing “Figure 1” or “Table 1” manually
• using inconsistent labels or numbering
• forgetting to refer to the figure or table in the main text
• adding images without a caption
• using decorative images that do not support the content
• forgetting to check image accessibility, such as alt text where needed

Before you submit your work, check that:

• every table or figure that needs a caption has one
• numbering is in the right order
• labels are consistent
• each table or figure is referred to in the text
• any table of figures has been updated
• images and tables are still clear in the final Word or PDF version

If you use Word’s caption tool rather than typing captions manually, it is much easier to keep numbering accurate and update a table of figures.