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)

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

Video: How to Write a Caption: 9 Steps (with Pictures)
Video: How to write photo caption 2024, April
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Captions for tables, graphs, or pictures provide context so readers can understand what they are seeing. Therefore, it is important to provide good captions for every table, graph, and image in your text.

Step

Part 1 of 2: Writing Captions

Write a Caption Step 1
Write a Caption Step 1

Step 1. Create a descriptive caption

This first rule is the most important rule. Tell the reader what is in the picture or graphic clearly. Why did you include that image? Readers should be able to answer these questions after reading your caption.

For example, if you include a picture of a field in your biology paper, your caption should explain why the field is important in your text

Write a Caption Step 2
Write a Caption Step 2

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

What does each bar on the graph represent? Your readers should have enough information from the captions, graphs, and captions to be able to understand the graph without reading your paper.

Write a Caption Step 3
Write a Caption Step 3

Step 3. Don't use humor

If you're not writing a funny paper with funny graphics, it's better to include a serious caption to keep it short.

Write a Caption Step 4
Write a Caption Step 4

Step 4. Write briefly

Captions need not be more than one paragraph. Usually, one sentence will suffice. In fact, incomplete sentences can also be captions. For a photo, you can use incomplete sentences like “Kayley at the Ferris wheel”.

Write a Caption Step 5
Write a Caption Step 5

Step 5. Eliminate unnecessary details

For example, for the image above you could use a caption like “Kayley waves her hand at the big green Ferris wheel”, but that extra information doesn't help the reader understand what's going on in the image.

Part 2 of 2: Listing Source Information

Write a Caption Step 6
Write a Caption Step 6

Step 1. List your sources under the graphs and tables if they were taken from elsewhere

How you cite your source will depend on the style of writing you're using. Below you can see how to provide source information in several formats.

Write a Caption Step 7
Write a Caption Step 7

Step 2. Write the source in Modern Language Association format

Example: “from Bob Davis, Motorcycles on the Road, (Boulder: Mountain Road Books, 2004) 55. Print.”

Note: Caption is written before the source information

Write a Caption Step 8
Write a Caption Step 8

Step 3. Write the source in American Psychological Association format

Example: “Notes. (caption). Reprinted from Motorcycles on the Road (p. 55), Bob Davis, 2004, Boulder: Mountain Road Books. Copyright 2004 by University Press. Reprinted with permission."

Write a Caption Step 9
Write a Caption Step 9

Step 4. Write the source in Chicago Style format

Example: “Source: Bob Davis, Motorcycles on the Road, Boulder: Mountain Road Publishers, 2004, 55.”

Note: In this style, the source is written after the caption

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