The reader is given context for what they are seeing by the caption to the tables, figures and images.It is important to provide a good caption for each table, figure and image in your text.
Step 1: It is a good idea to be descriptive.
The most important rule is this one.Tell the reader what's happening in the picture.Why are you including this image?The reader should be able to answer that after reading your caption.If you include a picture of a field in a paper about biology, your caption should tell why the field is important.
Step 2: You should talk about variables if you are describing a table or graph.
What is the representation on each side of the bar graph?To make sense of it without reading your paper, your reader should have enough information from the caption, key, and graph.
Step 3: It's better to save humor for other places.
Unless you are writing a paper with funny graphics, the caption is more serious due to the need for conciseness.
Step 4: It should be concise.
It should not be more than a paragraph, but a sentence should suffice.The caption doesn't need to be complete sentences.It is okay to make a photograph shorter than a sentence.
Step 5: Remove anything that isn't needed.
For instance, the above caption could have said " Kayley waves her hand on the giant green Ferris wheel," but the extra information that provides isn't necessary for the reader to understand what's going on in the picture.
Step 6: If it comes from somewhere else, put it under the table or graph.
The way you do this depends on the style guidelines you are using.You can find how to provide source information below.
Step 7: Cite in the Modern Language Association style.
Bob Davis wrote Motorcycles on the Road.The caption goes before the from.
Step 8: The style of the American Psychological Association isCite.
For example, there is a note.There is a caption.Bob Davis wrote a book called Mountain Road Books.All rights belong to the University Press.It was reproduced with permission.
Step 9: According to Chicago Style,Cite.
The source goes after the caption in this example.