Figures, Tables, and Equations

Abstract

The effective presentation of science goes beyond concise and precise writing. Figures, tables, and equations, if well constructed and well explained, can also convey science with both concision and precision. Creating effective figures, however, is more than just slapping the output from a commercial software package into the manuscript. Refinements and revisions are necessary to convert the working figures into their publication-quality descendents. Tables and equations can similarly be overused and underdeveloped, dumping grounds for inadequately explained data and science. Guidance provided in this chapter will help design, construct, and describe effective figures, useful tables, and helpful equations.