MLA Style (9th ed.)

Tables & Illustrations

If you are reproducing (copying) a table or illustration from another source, then use the guidelines on this page. Refer to the Images section of the guide if your are simply citing or describing an image but not copying it directly in your assignment using the Work Cited and in-text citation format.

Format basics for tables or illustrations include:

• Position a table or illustration in the body of your written assignment flush to the left-hand margin.
• Place the table or illustration as close as possible to the related content in your text.
• Label the table and illustration (i.e., figure) in numerical order:
  • Example: Table 1, Table 2, Fig. 1, Fig. 2
• Refer to the table and illustration in-text by label and number in lowercase letters:
  • Example: The unemployment rate in Canada has decreased (see table 1)
• Create a brief, but descriptive title for tables and illustration.
• Place the source citation below the illustration as a caption. There’s no need to cite the table or figure in your work-cited list if the table provides full information about the source, and the source is not listed in the body of your assignment.