How to Write a Caption: 9 Steps (with Pictures)

Table of contents:

How to Write a Caption: 9 Steps (with Pictures)
How to Write a Caption: 9 Steps (with Pictures)
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Captions to tables, images and figures give the reader context for what they are looking at. Consequently, it is important to provide a good description of each table, image and figure in your text.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Write the caption

Write a Caption Step 1
Write a Caption Step 1

Step 1. Be descriptive

The first rule is the most important. Tell the reader exactly what happens in the image. Why this one? The reader should be able to respond once the caption has been read.

For example, if you include a photo of a field on text that talks about biology, the caption should specify the importance of the field in the discussion

Write a Caption Step 2
Write a Caption Step 2

Step 2. If you are describing a table or graph, talk about the variables

What do the sides of the graph represent? The reader should have enough information from the caption, legend and graphic to make it understandable regardless of the text.

Write a Caption Step 3
Write a Caption Step 3

Step 3. Save the humor for other moments

Unless you are writing a comic text, the captions tend to be serious, due to the need for synthesis.

Write a Caption Step 4
Write a Caption Step 4

Step 4. Be brief

It shouldn't be more than a paragraph, but really, one sentence should be more than enough. In fact, complete sentences shouldn't even be needed. For a photo, a very short sentence, like “Martha on the boat”, is fine.

Write a Caption Step 5
Write a Caption Step 5

Step 5. Remove all unnecessary

For example, the caption above may have said "Martha greets from the huge giant boat", but the additional information is not necessary to make the reader understand what happens in the photo.

Part 2 of 2: Include the sources

Write a Caption Step 6
Write a Caption Step 6

Step 1. Mention the source below the graph or below the table if it comes from somewhere else

How you do it depends on your stylistic choices. Below, you will find how to provide sources in various formats.

Write a Caption Step 7
Write a Caption Step 7

Step 2. Cite in the style of the Modern Language Association

For example: "from Bob Davis, Motorcycles on the Road, (Boulder: Mountain Road Books, 2004) 55. Print."

Note: the caption starts with “from”

Write a Caption Step 8
Write a Caption Step 8

Step 3. Quote in the style of the American Psychologists Association

For example: “Note. (caption). Reprinted from Motorcycles on the Road (p. 55), Bob Davis, 2004, Boulder: Mountain Road Books. Copyright 2004: University Press. Authorization granted."

Write a Caption Step 9
Write a Caption Step 9

Step 4. Quote in the style of Chicago

For example: "Source: Bob Davis, Motorcycles on the Road, Boulder: Mountain Road Publishers, 2004, 55."

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