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.

General notes

• 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.
• Number the tables/figures consecutively throughout your document.
• The title of the image is in italics and title case and appears one double spaced line below figure number.
• 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 attribution. If the license associated with clip art or a stock image states, "no attribution required", then do not provide an APA Style reference, in-text citation, or copyright attribution. Clip art from programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint do not require attribution.
• 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.

Reference list

If the license associated with clip art or stock image states "no attribution required", do not provide an APA Style reference, in text citation or copyright attribution.

Images and clip art available from programs such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint can be used without attribution.

In text citation

As show in Figure 1 …

Reprinted figure

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 clip art or stock image is under copyright or requires attribution (for example, it has a creative commons CC BY license), attribute the source in the note under the figure, and include the full citation in your reference list. For further details, see the image from a website section of this guide.

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.

A figure or image created by you (for example, a photograph) does not need a figure note, as you are the copyright holder. However, if the image requires more description or explanation than the title, you may wish to include this in a figure note.

The exception is when you wish to use an image you have created that has already appeared in a published work (for example, in a journal article or book). Copyright may now reside with the publisher, and permission may need to be sought to use the image again.

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.