Tables can be the best way to present data or other essential information. The tables you submit with your manuscript should be prepared with the same skill, thought, and care as the text. Failure to do so will result in delay in publication. Tables are expensive to typeset, so include only those tables that make a positive contribution to the book. All tables submitted with the final manuscript must be complete and accompanied by permissions documentation.
Table Style
- Tables must be double-numbered by chapter (tables in chapter 4, for example, would be numbered as Table 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, etc.). A complete list of tables must be included on the Illustration and Permissions Inventory as part of your manuscript submission.
- Tables should have a brief title describing what is being presented in the table; the table number and title appear above the table text.
- Table text should be arranged so that the rows outnumber the columns and the entries in each column contain similar material.
- Table text may be followed by footnotes, notes, and source information (in that order). Table footnotes use superscript, italic lowercase letters to identify the footnote in the table and in the footnote. A table note is introduced by the word “Note:” and contains information applicable to the entire table, such as a key to abbreviations or symbols. The table source is introduced by the word “Source:” followed by source information.
Table Preparation
- Tables are best prepared in Word or Excel. Do not create tables in drawing or graphics programs and then paste them into a Word file. Tables will be copyedited in Word.
- If you create tables in Word, use the Table feature that sets up tables using cells for rows and columns. (Avoid setting up tables using the Tab key only.) Put one row of the table in one row of cells. Do not put multiple rows of data in a single row of cells and align them with the return key.
- If you create tables in Excel, be sure that the actual data is embedded in the file you submit, and not cross-referenced to Excel files that you will not be submitting.
- Tables may be included at the end of the text for each chapter or in separate files grouped by chapter.