APA

In APA referencing:

• The word "figure" is used to refer to an image, graph, chart, photograph, drawing (or any other illustration that is not a table).
• Tables show numerical values or textual information arranged in columns and rows. 

Click on each of the elements below to learn about including figures and tables in your work.

Text version

Notes on figures and tables in presentations

• In a presentation (such as a PowerPoint presentation or video), the figure and table number, title, and note are optional.
• You may choose to include the full reference for the image at the bottom of each slide, or in a note under each image; combined with a full reference list at the end of the presentation.

• Consult your lecturer or supervisor for guidance on how best to display references for images in your presentation.

Notes on figures and tables in written papers

• All figures and tables must be referred to in the main body of the text, by their figure or table number. For example, as shown in Table 4, or as illustrated in Figure 3.
• Where needed, provide copyright attribution in a note below the table or figure. Provide the full reference to the original source in your reference list.
• Not all images require copyright attribution.  See the sections on Clip art or stock image, and Image you created below. 
• If a figure or table is being reproduced for inclusion in a work that is being published (for example, journal article, book or thesis), you must seek permission from the copyright holder. This permission must be included in the caption.

See Tables and Figures on the APA Style Blog for more information.

Images not requiring attribution:

• Clip art/stock images labeled "no attribution required" or images in the public domain (e.g. CC0).
• Stock images freely available in Microsoft Word/PowerPoint
• Your own original photographs or artwork

In text citation

As shown in Figure 1 …

Figure not requiring attribution

Figure 1

Example of Stimuli Used in Experiment 1

Note. Participants assigned to the study were shown various images of cats, including this one.

Notes

• If the image, chart or table requires an explanation or description other than the figure title, you may wish to include this in the figure note.
• If you are citing a previously published self-created image (published in book, journal article etc.), copyright may now reside with the publisher, and permission may need to be sought to use the image again.

Reference list

Examples:

Denali National Park and Preserve. (2013). Boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/denalinps/8614178747/

Taylor Ghee, R. E. (ca. 1925). From Duke's Dock [Oil painting]. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/9783/

In-text

As illustrated in Figure 1 …

Caption for Figure note

Figure 1

From Duke's Dock

Note. From From Duke's Dock [Oil painting], by R. E. Taylor Ghee, ca. 1925, National Gallery of Victoria,  (https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/5615/). In the public domain.

Figure 2

Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)

Note. From Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) [Photograph], by Denali National Park and Preserve, 2013, Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/denalinps/8614178747/). CC BY 2.0.

Notes

• If reprinting the image, include copyright attribution in the note below the figure where required.
• If the name of the artist or creator is not provided, use the first few words of the title.
• Double space the note and align left.
• For multiple authors, consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.

Reference list

See the books & ebooks section of this guide.

In-text

Figure 1 demonstrates …

Figure note caption

Example:

Figure 1

Overview of Knowledge Base Acceleration

Note. From Entity-Oriented Search (p. 190), by K. Balog, 2018, Springer (https://uis.brage.unit.no/uis-xmlui/handle/11250/2581845). Copyright 2018 by K. Balog.

Notes

• Provide copyright attribution in the note, then provide a reference list entry for the book in the reference list.
• Double space the note and align left.
• For multiple authors, consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.

Reference list

See chapter from edited book section of this guide.

In-text

… as shown in Figure 3.

Figure note caption

Example:

Figure 3

How to Swim the American Crawl

Note. From "Swimming the Crawl to Educate the Modern Body: Visual Material and the Expanding Market for Participatory Sports in the USA, 1890s-1930s," by O. Steiglitz, in C. Bonah and A. Laukotter (Eds), Body, Capital, and Screens: Visual media and the Healthy Self in the 20th Century, (p. 165), 2020, Amsterdam University Press (https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv12sdvgj.9). Copyright 1934 by F. J. Sullivan.

Notes

• The figure number is in bold and placed above the image.
• The title of the image is in italics, capitalised and appears one double spaced line below figure number.
• Number the figures consecutively throughout your document.
• Provide copyright attribution in the note, then provide a reference list entry for the book chapter in the reference list.
• Double space the note and align left.

Reference list

See journal articles section of this guide.

In-text

Figure 1 demonstrates …

Figure note caption

Example:

Figure 1

Women Meet in the Tidal Zone During Ngawiya Maan (We Take to Give)

Note. From “Songlines, Museology and Contemporary Aboriginal Art," by P. Matt, 2018, Artlink, 38(2), p. 38 (https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.626228289052306). Copyright 2018 by Stella Stories courtesy Australian Museum.

Notes

• The figure number is in bold and placed above the image.
• The title of the image is in italics, capitalised and appears one double spaced line below figure number.
• Number the figures consecutively throughout your document.
• If there is no title give a concise description of the image and use this in the figure title.
• Provide copyright attribution in the note, then provide a reference list entry for the article in the reference list.
• Double space the note and align left
• For multiple authors, consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.

Reference list

Gallagher, S. A., & Hackett, P. (2019). Patient education: High altitude illness (including mountain sickness) (Beyond the basics). UpToDate. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics.

In-text

Figure 1 illustrates …

Example

Figure 1

Portable Hyperbaric Chamber

Note. This photograph of a Camp D'Altitude hyperbaric chamber was provided courtesy of Charles Marquette. The photograph is from"Patient Education: High Altitude Illness (Including Mountain Sickness) (Beyond the Basics)," by S. A. Gallagher and P. Hackett, 2019, (https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics). Copyright 2024 by UpToDate.

Notes

• Include database information only for databases that provide original proprietary works, for example, UpToDate, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
• If there is no title, give a concise description of the image and use this for the title.
• Include copyright attribution in the note.
• Double space the note and align left.
• If the URL is very long, a functioning, shortened link can be used.

Reference list

Provide the full APA citation for the source in your reference list, as per the relevant source type (for example, article, book, chapter from edited book, website).

In-text

Table 1 illustrates …

Table note caption

Article

Book

Chapter from edited book

Website

Example:

Table 1

Leave-on Product Details as Containing Microbeads By Product Type

Note. From An Assessment of the Presence of Microbeads in Rinse-Off Personal Care, Cosmetic And Cleaning Products Currently Available Within The Australian Retail Market, by K. Farrell and F. Harney, November 30, 2020, (https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/microbeads-rinse-products-survey-report.pdf). Copyright 2020 by Envisage.

Notes

• The table should be reproduced in your paper exactly as it appears in the original source. 
• The table number is in bold and placed above the table.
• In-text references should include the word Table with its number next to it.
• Give a title (in italics) which describes the table contents.
• Provide a note below the table and include copyright attribution if needed.
• Double space the note and align left.
• Include a DOI or URL if available.
• If the URL is very long, a functioning, shortened link can be used.