CCE CCE Tables, Figures, and Special Elements Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When should a table title appear in relation to the table itself?
- Above the table, according to most editorial style guides. (Correct answer)
- Below the table, following the same convention as figure captions.
- Beside the table in the left margin.
- Only at the end of the chapter.
Correct answer: Above the table, according to most editorial style guides.
Most style guides (Chicago, APA, AMA) place table titles above the table, while figure captions appear below the figure.
Question 2: A manuscript has a figure labeled 'Fig. 3' in the caption but referred to as 'Figure Three' in the text. What should the copyeditor do?
- Standardize the reference style consistently throughout the manuscript per the applicable style guide. (Correct answer)
- Keep both forms since they refer to the same figure.
- Delete the in-text reference to the figure.
- Change the caption label to 'Figure Three' to match the text.
Correct answer: Standardize the reference style consistently throughout the manuscript per the applicable style guide.
Consistency is essential; the copyeditor must choose one form (typically 'Figure 3' or 'Fig. 3') and apply it uniformly in captions and text references.
Question 3: What is a 'stub' in the context of a table?
- The leftmost column that lists the row headings or categories. (Correct answer)
- A short caption beneath the table.
- A footnote attached to a specific cell.
- The horizontal rule separating the header from the body.
Correct answer: The leftmost column that lists the row headings or categories.
The stub (or stub column) is the leftmost column of a table containing the row labels that identify each row's content.
Question 4: A figure caption reads 'The results of all the experiments conducted during the 2024 study year are displayed above.' What editorial issue exists?
- Captions should not use directional words like 'above'; figures are identified by number. (Correct answer)
- The caption is too short.
- The word 'displayed' should be 'shown.'
- The year should be spelled out as 'two thousand twenty-four.'
Correct answer: Captions should not use directional words like 'above'; figures are identified by number.
Directional references such as 'above,' 'below,' or 'left' are unreliable because layout can change; the figure should be identified by number instead.
Question 5: In a table footnote, symbols are typically used in what order?
- *, †, ‡, §, ‖, ¶ (asterisk, dagger, double dagger, section, parallel, pilcrow). (Correct answer)
- a, b, c, d (lowercase letters).
- 1, 2, 3 (superscript numerals).
- Either letters or numbers but never symbols.
Correct answer: *, †, ‡, §, ‖, ¶ (asterisk, dagger, double dagger, section, parallel, pilcrow).
Chicago style and many other guides prescribe the sequence of symbols (*, †, ‡, §, ‖, ¶) for table footnotes to avoid confusion with numbered text footnotes.
Question 6: A copyeditor notices a table is mentioned in the text as 'see Table 4' but the manuscript only contains three tables. What is the correct action?
- Flag the discrepancy to the author; a table may be missing or the reference may be a numbering error. (Correct answer)
- Silently renumber the tables to add a Table 4.
- Delete the in-text reference.
- Assume the author meant Table 3 and change it silently.
Correct answer: Flag the discrepancy to the author; a table may be missing or the reference may be a numbering error.
A copyeditor should flag cross-reference errors rather than silently altering them, as the author must confirm whether a table is missing or the number is wrong.
CCE CCE Tables, Figures, and Special Elements Questions and Answers 1
When should a table title appear in relation to the table itself?