How to Write a Caption
Be descriptive., If you are describing a table or graph, talk about variables., Save humor for elsewhere., Keep it concise., Remove anything that isn’t strictly necessary., Cite your source under the graph or table if it comes from somewhere else...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Be descriptive.
This first rule is the most important.
Tell the reader exactly what is going on in the picture or figure.
Why exactly are you including this image? The reader should be able to answer that after reading your caption.
For instance, if you’re including a picture of a field in a paper about biology, your caption should tell why the field is important to your discussion. -
Step 2: If you are describing a table or graph
What does each side of the bar graph represent? Your reader should have enough information from the caption, the key, and the graph to be able to make sense of it without reading your paper. , Unless you are writing a humorous paper that includes humorous graphics, generally captions are better left serious due to the need for conciseness. , That is, it should be no longer than a paragraph, but really, a sentence should be sufficient, at most.
In fact, captions don’t even need to be complete sentences.
For a photograph, it’s okay to make it shorter than a sentence, such as “Kayley on the Ferris wheel.” , For instance, the above caption could have said “Kayley waves her hand on the giant green Ferris wheel,” but the extra information that provides isn’t necessary for the reader to understand what’s going on in the picture. , How you do this depends on the style guidelines you are using.
Below, you’ll find how to provide source information in various formats. , For example: “from Bob Davis, Motorcycles on the Road, (Boulder:
Mountain Road Books, 2004)
55.
Print.” Note:
The caption goes before the “from.” , For example: “Note. (caption).
Reprinted from Motorcycles on the Road (p. 55), Bob Davis, 2004, Boulder:
Mountain Road Books.
Copyright 2004 by the University Press.
Reprinted with permission.” , For example: “Source:
Bob Davis, Motorcycles on the Road, Boulder:
Mountain Road Publishers, 2004,
55.” Note:
In this one, the source goes after the caption. -
Step 3: talk about variables.
-
Step 4: Save humor for elsewhere.
-
Step 5: Keep it concise.
-
Step 6: Remove anything that isn’t strictly necessary.
-
Step 7: Cite your source under the graph or table if it comes from somewhere else.
-
Step 8: Cite according to Modern Language Association style.
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Step 9: Cite according to American Psychological Association style.
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Step 10: Cite according to Chicago Style.
Detailed Guide
This first rule is the most important.
Tell the reader exactly what is going on in the picture or figure.
Why exactly are you including this image? The reader should be able to answer that after reading your caption.
For instance, if you’re including a picture of a field in a paper about biology, your caption should tell why the field is important to your discussion.
What does each side of the bar graph represent? Your reader should have enough information from the caption, the key, and the graph to be able to make sense of it without reading your paper. , Unless you are writing a humorous paper that includes humorous graphics, generally captions are better left serious due to the need for conciseness. , That is, it should be no longer than a paragraph, but really, a sentence should be sufficient, at most.
In fact, captions don’t even need to be complete sentences.
For a photograph, it’s okay to make it shorter than a sentence, such as “Kayley on the Ferris wheel.” , For instance, the above caption could have said “Kayley waves her hand on the giant green Ferris wheel,” but the extra information that provides isn’t necessary for the reader to understand what’s going on in the picture. , How you do this depends on the style guidelines you are using.
Below, you’ll find how to provide source information in various formats. , For example: “from Bob Davis, Motorcycles on the Road, (Boulder:
Mountain Road Books, 2004)
55.
Print.” Note:
The caption goes before the “from.” , For example: “Note. (caption).
Reprinted from Motorcycles on the Road (p. 55), Bob Davis, 2004, Boulder:
Mountain Road Books.
Copyright 2004 by the University Press.
Reprinted with permission.” , For example: “Source:
Bob Davis, Motorcycles on the Road, Boulder:
Mountain Road Publishers, 2004,
55.” Note:
In this one, the source goes after the caption.
About the Author
Diane Campbell
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in practical skills and beyond.
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