Tables are really easy to create with a simple excel sheet or using the table function in word. Depending on the journal, the formatting of tables is more or less restrictive. The boxes and gridlines are usually removed for printing and most journals don’t accept showing cell boundaries.

The image below shows a typical layout of a table. As you can see, the legend and caption of the table are place above the table and aligned left. The footnote includes information that is necessary for the understanding of the data presented. The table in itself presents here four columns and two main horizontal blocks: one with the columns’ headers and one with the different variables studied. You can create as many lines, columns or blocks as you wish but try to fit the table in one page at most and don’t forget to include headers. The tables are typically read from top to bottom.

Note also that:

• The data is presented in a summarized form (total number, means, percentage).
• You have to explain in which units are the value presented.
• The footnote is useful to present data that is redundant.