Visual elements and related formats in APA 7 Style

What this section covers

APA Style recognizes tables and figures as the two main ways to display visual information. Graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, drawings, photographs, and infographics are all figures, so they follow the same basic rules for numbers, titles, and notes.

Lists, equations, and appendices are covered in other parts of the manual, but they also organize or supplement information in a paper. They are grouped here so you can choose the right format without confusing their purposes.

Choose the resource you need

• Figures: use a graph, diagram, map, photograph, or other image when a visual display helps readers identify relationships or patterns.
• Tables: arrange data in rows and columns when readers need to compare or retrieve exact values.
• Lists: separate steps, questions, or related items with numbers, bullets, or letters.
• Equations: present short mathematical expressions within text or complex equations on a separate line.
• Appendices: place supporting material at the end when it would interrupt the main discussion.

Before adding an element

Include a resource only when it improves understanding. A table or figure should not repeat every value already explained clearly in the text. A list should not break a simple sentence into unnecessary items, and an appendix should not become storage for material that the paper never mentions.

Ask these questions:

1. Does the element help readers understand, compare, or verify an important idea?
2. Does the text introduce it and tell readers what to notice?
3. Can it be understood without guessing the meaning of abbreviations, symbols, or colors?
4. Does its information agree with the rest of the paper?
5. Is the source acknowledged when the material comes from another work?

When your institution has its own rules

A university may set additional requirements for theses or dissertations, such as lists of tables and figures or a particular location for appendices. Follow those directions when they supplement APA Style.

If an institutional direction appears to conflict with APA Style, ask your instructor or program coordinator before submitting the paper. The guide to appendices explains their APA format and placement.