Formatting a Table in APA Style

Table Number
1. Ensure that your page margins are correct (1.5 on the left and 1 for all others).
2. Enter the word Table with the table number. !ote that there is no period after the
number.
". #pen the $aragraph %ormat window in &ord. ('n 2((" and earlier) select %ormat and
then $aragraph. 'n &ord 2((*) select the +ome tab and then clic, the arrow to the
right of the word $aragraph.) -nder .pacing) select these options/
0efore/ 12 points (This will ensure a triple space between the te1t preceding
your table and the table number without your ha2ing to put in an e1tra hard
return.)
3fter/ ( points
4ine spacing/ 5ouble
Heres what you have so far:
Table 1
Table Title
1. Enter your table title in italics. 6apitali7e all ma8or words9all nouns) 2erbs)
ad8ecti2es) ad2erbs) and pronouns9and 344 words of four letters or more. 'f a term
is hyphenated) capitali7e both words in the term. 'f the title wraps) put a hard return at
the end of the first line.
2. -nder $aragraph %ormat) .pacing) select these options/
0efore/ ( points
3fter/ : points
4ine .pacing/ .ingle
Heres what you have so far:
Table 1
Storekeeper Cycle 192 Occupational Portion of E-4 Exam Score Means for GENE!
an" esi#nate" Sailors
1 ; $ a g e
Table Setup
1. 5etermine the number of rows and columns you will need. !ote these two special
circumstances in the completed sample table at the end of this document/
3n e1tra column has been added between the two sets of data to pro2ide
spacing between the data sets being compared. This is not necessary if you
ha2e only one data set.
3n e1tra row has been added to the header to accommodate the column
spanners (headings that span multiple columns).
2. 6reate your table.
". .elect your table and turn off all borders. <ou can use the borders icon/
=. &ith your table selected) open the $aragraph %ormat window and select the
following/
4eft alignment
!o indents
.pacing before/ 12 points
.pacing after/ ( points
.ingle line spacing
5. .till with your table selected) go to Table $roperties and in the cell properties) set
your 2ertical alignment to 0ottom.
Heres what you have so far (dotted lines added to show cell boundaries):
Table 1
Storekeeper Cycle 192 Occupational Portion of E-4 Exam Score Means for GENE!
an" esi#nate" Sailors
2 ; $ a g e
Heading Row
1. 'nsert a heading for each column of data) including the stub (the left>hand column). 'f
you plan to ha2e column spanners) enter your column headings in the second row.
?eep all headings short but meaningful.
3 column head should not be much wider than the data in the column. 'f the
head is too long and cannot be shortened) insert a hard return where you want
the te1t to brea, and then type the remaining te1t.
-se standard abbre2iations and symbols for nontechnical terms) such as no.
for number and @ for percent) and use statistical symbols.
!onstandard abbre2iations and acronyms may also be used but must be
e1plained in the table notes.
2. 6apitali7e only the first word) proper nouns) and any acronymsAabbre2iations.
!ote that the word 6ycle is capitali7ed. 'f there had been no number after
6ycle) it would ha2e been lowercased. +owe2er) the number indicates that
the cycle is part of a numbered series) which is always capitali7ed in 3$3.
3lso note that statistical symbols are italici7ed.
". .elect the header row that you ha2e 8ust filled. -sing the border icon) select a bottom
border.
Heres what you have so far (dotted lines added to show cell boundaries):
Table 1
Storekeeper Cycle 192 Occupational Portion of E-4 Exam Score Means for GENE!
an" esi#nate" Sailors
.tore,eeper
6ycle 1B2 n M SE n M SE
" ; $ a g e
Column Spanners
1. Cany tables do not ha2e column spanners. 'f yours does) then first merge the cells
abo2e the columns that you want to span.
2. Enter the titles of your column spanners) following the same capitali7ation rules as for
column heads.
". .elect center alignment and a bottom border for each column spanner.
Heres what you have so far (dotted lines added to show cell boundaries):
Table 1
Storekeeper Cycle 192 Occupational Portion of E-4 Exam Score Means for GENE!
an" esi#nate" Sailors
DE!5ET 5esignated
.tore,eeper
6ycle 1B2 n M SE n M SE
= ; $ a g e
Stub Column
1. 'nsert the te1t for the stub column (left>hand column). 'n Euantitati2e studies) the stub
column generally consists of a list of the ma8or independent 2ariables.
2. %ollow the capitali7ation rules for headings.
". Ensure that all items in the column are grammatically parallel (all noun phrases) all
2erb phrases) all ad8ecti2es) or all ad2erbs) and that they are all described or
categori7ed by the stub head.
Heres what you have so far (dotted lines added to show cell boundaries):
Table 1
Storekeeper Cycle 192 Occupational Portion of E-4 Exam Score Means for GENE!
an" esi#nate" Sailors
DE!5ET 5esignated
.tore,eeper
6ycle 1B2 n M SE n M SE
DE!5ET
2s. total
#FT
DE!5ET
2s. :
months
#FT
DE!5ET
2s. 12G
months
#FT
5 ; $ a g e
Data Columns
1. 'nsert the te1t for the remaining data columns. Te1tual data follows the capitali7ation
rules for headings. Ensure that all items in each column are grammatically and
conceptually parallel.
2. %ormat numerical data as follows/
+ori7ontally align right) and 2ertically align by decimal point.
+a2e eEual decimal places for all numbers in a column. 5ifferent columns
may ha2e different numbers of decimal places.
3dd an asteris, to indicate 2alues for which the null hypothesis was re8ected.
Enter a dash in any cell with missing data and e1plain it in a general note. 'f
data are not applicable for a cell) lea2e the cell blan,.
Heres what you have so far (dotted lines added to show cell boundaries):
Table 1
Storekeeper Cycle 192 Occupational Portion of E-4 Exam Score Means for GENE!
an" esi#nate" Sailors
DE!5ET 5esignated
.tore,eeper
6ycle 1B2 n M SE n M SE
DE!5ET
2s. total
#FT "1 5H.=( 2.5B H1 **.(HI 1.:(
DE!5ET
2s. :
months
#FT "1 5H.55 2.=B 2: *B.1:I 2.*2
DE!5ET
2s. 12G
months
#FT "1 5H.5( 2.:: 55 *:.(1I 2.((
: ; $ a g e
Final Formatting
1. .elect the first row and then select a top border.
2. .elect the bottom row and select a bottom border. 'n the $aragraph %ormat
window) enter " points in the 3fter bloc, under .pacing.
". 6lic, and drag the column lines to ad8ust the widths of the columns. The stub column
is often the widest column. Try to gi2e it enough space so that the te1t does not wrap.
'f the te1t is too long) insert a hard return and indent the second line " spaces.
=. Text tables with multiple lines of wrapped text reEuire special formatting/
.elect all data rows. 'n the $aragraph %ormat window) under 4ine spacing)
select double.
.elect all but the top data row. 'n the $aragraph %ormat window) change the
12 points 0efore to (.
Do not indent the second or subseEuent lines in a te1t table cell.
5. 6enter the column headers o2er the column data.
Heres what you have so far:
Table 1
Storekeeper Cycle 192 Occupational Portion of E-4 Exam Score Means for GENE!
an" esi#nate" Sailors
DE!5ET 5esignated
.tore,eeper 6ycle 1B2 n M SE n M SE
DE!5ET 2s. total #FT "1 5H.=( 2.5B H1 **.(HI 1.:(
DE!5ET 2s. : months #FT "1 5H.55 2.=B 2: *B.1:I 2.*2
DE!5ET 2s. 12G months #FT "1 5H.5( 2.:: 55 *:.(1I 2.((
Notes
There are three types of notes/ general notes) specific notes) and probability notes) and
they are seEuenced in that order. 3 table may ha2e no notes) a single note) or any
combination of notes.
* ; $ a g e
3ll notes are double spaced.
!otes may be formatted in 1(>point font.
3ll notes are complete sentences and end with a period. EEuations are sentences.
General notes Eualify) e1plain) or pro2ide information about the table as a whole.
Deneral notes end with an e1planation of abbre2iations or uncommon symbols.
1. Enter the word Note in italics) followed by a period.
2. 'n the $aragraph %ormat window) under .pacing) enter 12 points for 0efore.
". Enter the te1t of the note) following standard 3$3 con2entions.
=. Enter e1planations of abbre2iations or symbols as eEuations) separated by a
semicolon. .pace before and after the J sign. 0egin the e1planation after the J sign
with a lowercase letter unless it is a proper name) and end it with a period.
E1ample/ DE!5ET J general detailedK #FT J on>the>8ob training.
5. 'f you are reproducing or adapting all or part of a table from a copyrighted source)
you must obtain written permission to use it and you must include a full citation in the
general notes. +ere are two e1amples/
5ata from a table found in a 8ournal article/
Note$ The data in column 1 are from %eedbac, 6hannels/ -sing .ocial $resence
Theory to 6ompare Loice Cail to E>Cail) by C. ?eil and M. 5. Fohnson) 2((2)
%ournal of &nformation Systems E"ucation' 1() p. 2BH. 6opyright 2((2 by
30'A'!%#MC Dlobal. 3dapted with permission.
Table reprinted from a boo,/
Note$ %rom #nline 4earning 6ommunities/ 6ommon Dround and 6ritical
5ifferences in 5esigning Technical En2ironments) (p. 22) by C. Miel and 4. $olin)
2((=) in .. 3. 0arab) M. ?ling) and F. +. Dray (Eds.)) esi#nin# for )irtual
Communities in t*e Ser+ice of ,earnin#) 6ambridge) -?/ 6ambridge -ni2ersity
$ress. Meprinted with permission
:. 'f you want to indicate significant differences between two or more data entries in a
table9for e1ample) if you used a Tu,ey test to compare the means9use lowercase
subscripts in each data cell and e1plain the subscripts in the general notes. %or
instance) in a table with 1: means as data entries) 12 of the entries might be followed
by a subscripted a (e.g.) 5.=*
a
) to indicate that a Tu,ey test re2ealed no significant
difference between them) and the other = entries would be followed by a subscripted
- (e.g.) 2.(B
b
) to indicate a significant difference between them and the other 12
means. The general note would e1plain this as follows/
H ; $ a g e
Note. Ceans with different subscripts differ significantly at p N .(1 in the Tu,ey
honestly significant difference comparison.
Specific notes refer to a particular column) row) or indi2idual cell. &ithin the table)
indicate specific notes with a lowercase) superscripted letter (e.g.)
a) b) c
) at the end of data
in the appropriate cell. To refer to a column) enter the letter at the end of the column
head. To refer to a row) enter the letter at the end of the te1t in the stub column for that
row. To refer to a cell) enter the letter at the end of the te1t in that cell.
1. .eEuence superscripts from left to right and top to bottom) starting at the top left.
2. .eEuence the specific notes hori7ontally) not 2ertically.
E1ample/
a
n J 25.
b
This participant did not complete the trials.
Probability notes indicate the results of tests of significance. 'nclude a probability note
only when rele2ant to specific data in the table. ('f the results shown in the table were
insufficiently significant to re8ect the null hypothesis) do not include a probability note.)
1. -se a single asteris, (I) to indicate the largest probability) a double asteris, (II) to
indicate the ne1t largest) and a triple asteris, (III) to indicate the smallest.
E1ample/ Ip N .(5. IIp N .(1. III p N .((1.
2. The number of asteris,s should be consistent throughout your dissertation. %or
instance) if your first table includes significant results at .(5 and .(1) and your second
table includes significant results at .(1 and .((1) then use a double asteris, for .(1 in
your second table) e2en though it is the largest probability for that table.
". To distinguish between two>tailed and one>tailed tests in the same table) use asteris,s
for the two>tailed p 2alues and a superscripted dagger (
O
) for one>tailed p 2alues.
E1ample/ Ip N .(5) two>tailed. IIp N .(1) two>tailed.
O
p N .(5) one>tailed.
=. 0e sure to italici7e p) enter a space before and after the N sign) and place a period at
the end of each note.
B ; $ a g e
Heres the final formatted table:
Table 1
Storekeeper Cycle 192 Occupational Portion of E-4 Exam Score Means for GENE!
an" esi#nate" Sailors
DE!5ET 5esignated
.tore,eeper 6ycle 1B2 n M SE n M SE
DE!5ET 2s. total #FT "1 5H.=( 2.5B H1 **.(HI 1.:(
DE!5ET 2s. : months #FT "1 5H.55 2.=B 2: *B.1:I 2.*2
DE!5ET 2s. 12G months #FT "1 5H.5( 2.:: 55 *:.(1I 2.((
Note$ 3d8usted means are based on 3rmed %orces Pualification Test mean scores as the co2ariate/ (a)
=B.=5 for DE!5ET 2s. total #FT) (b) =B."B for DE!5ET 2s. : months #FT) and (c) =B.BH for DE!5ET
2s. 12G months #FT. DE!5ET J general detailedK #FT J on>the>8ob training.
Ip N .(1.
Wide Tables
'f your table needs more space than the : inches allowed in a standard page) format it in
landscape 2iew.
1. 3s soon as possible after the table is mentioned) while being careful not to lea2e too
much white space at the end of a page) enter a section brea,. 'n &ord 2((" and
earlier) section brea,s can be found in the 'nsert menu. 'n &ord 2((*) they are found
under the $age 4ayout tab in the $age .etup section. .elect the !e1t $age option.
2. -nder $age 4ayout) change your margins so that you ha2e a 1.5>inch top margin and
a 1>inch margin on the sides and bottom. 0e careful to select 3pply to this section
before you clic, #?.
". 6reate your table.
=. 3t the end of the table) enter another section brea,.
5. #pen the footer in the section that you 8ust created9the section after the section with
the table.
1( ; $ a g e
:. 5eselect 4in, to $re2ious.
*. Do bac, to the section containing the table and delete the page number. %ull>page
tables and figures are not to ha2e page numbers.
ong Tables
'f your table is too long to fit on one page) you must brea, it and continue it on another
page. 't is better not to brea, a table if at all possible. Try inserting another paragraph of
te1t to force the entire table to the ne1t page. +owe2er) ne2er split a paragraph to insert a
table. 'f you must split a table) follow these formatting guidelines/
1. !e2er brea, the table after the heading or in the middle of a row.
2. 3dd a bottom border to the last row on the first page.
". 0elow the bottom border) flush right) insert the following/ .!a-le 1 continues/
=. 3t the top of the ne1t page) flush left) insert the following/ .!a-le 1 continue"/
5. Mepeat the header row(s) below .!a-le 1 continue"/$ Ensure that the header row has a
top and bottom border 8ust as it did on the pre2ious page.
11 ; $ a g e