[U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual]
[Chapter 13 - Tabular Work]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
13.1. The object of a table is to present in a concise and orderly
manner information that cannot be presented as clearly in any
other way.
13.2. Tabular material should be kept as simple as possible, so that
the meaning of the data can be easily grasped by the user.
13.3. Tables shall be set without down (vertical) rules when there is
at least an em space between columns, except where: (1) In
GPO's judgment down rules are required for clarity; or (2) the
agency has indicated on the copy they are to be used. The mere
presence of down rules in copy or enclosed sample is not
considered a request that down rules be used. The publication
dictates the type size used in setting tables. Tabular work in
the Congressional Record is set 6 on 7. The balance of
congressional tabular work sets 7 on 8.
Abbreviations
13.4. To avoid burdening tabular text, commonly known abbreviations
are used in tables. Metric and unit-of-measurement
abbreviations are used with figures.
13.5. The names of months (except May, June, and July) when followed
by the day are abbreviated.
13.6. The words street, avenue, place, road, square, boulevard,
terrace, drive, court, and building, following name or number,
are abbreviated. For numbered streets, avenues, etc., figures
are used.
13.7. Abbreviate the words United States if preceding the word
Government, the name of any Government organization, or as an
adjective generally.
13.8. Use the abbreviations RR. and Ry. following a name, and SS, MS,
etc., preceding a name.
13.9. Use lat. and long. with figures.
13.10. Abbreviate, when followed by figures, the various parts of
publications, as article, part, section, etc.
13.11. Use, generally, such abbreviations and contractions as 98th
Cong., 1st sess., H. Res. 5, H.J. Res. 21, S. Doc. 62, S. Rept.
410, Rev. Stat., etc.
13.12. In columns containing names of persons, copy is followed as to
abbreviations of given names.
13.13. Periods are not used after abbreviations followed by leaders.
Bearoff
13.14. An en space is used for all bearoffs.
13.15. In a crowded table, when down rules are necessary, the bearoff
may be reduced in fi gure columns.
13.16. Fractions are set flush right to the bearoff of the allotted
column width, and not aligned.
13.17. Mathematical signs, parentheses, fractions, and brackets are
set with a normal bearoff .
Boxheads
13.18. Periods are omitted after all boxheads, but a dash is used
after any boxhead which reads into the matter following.
13.19. Boxheads run crosswise.
13.20. Boxheads are set solid, even in leaded tables.
13.21. Boxheads are centered horizontally and vertically.
Down-rule style (see Rule 13.3)
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13.22. In referring to quantity of things, the word Number in boxheads
is spelled if possible.
13.23. Column numbers or letters in parentheses may be set under
box-heads and are separated by one line space below the
deepest head. (If alignment of parentheses is required within
the table, use brackets in boxhead.) These column references
align across the table. Units of quantity are set in
parentheses within boxheads.
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13.24. Leaders may be supplied in a column consisting entirely of
symbols or years or dates or any combination of these.
Centerheads, flush entries, and subentries
13.25. Heads follow the style of the tables as to the use of figures
and abbreviations.
13.26. Punctuation is omitted after centerheads. Flush entries and
subentries over subordinate items are followed by a colon
(single subentry to run in, preserving the colon), but a dash
is used instead of a colon when the entry reads into the matter
below.
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13.27. In reading columns if the centerhead clears the reading matter
below by at least an em, the space is omitted; if it clears by
less than an em, a space is used. If an overrun, rule, etc., in
another column, or in the same column, creates a blank space
above the head, the extra space is not added.
13.28. Units of quantity and years used as heads in reading and figure
columns are set in italic with space above but no space below.
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No-down-rule style (preferred)
The rules are used here to aid readability.
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Ciphers
13.29. Where the first number in a column or under a cross rule is
wholly a decimal, a cipher is added at the left of its decimal
point. A cipher used alone in a money or other decimal column
is placed in the unit row and is not followed by a period. The
cipher repeats in mixed units before decimals unless the group
totals.
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13.30. In columns containing both dollars and cents, ciphers will be
supplied on right of decimal point in the absence of figures.
13.31. Where column consists of single decimal, supply a cipher on the
right unless the decimal is a cipher.
0.6
0
3.0
4.2
5.0
13.32. Where column has mixed decimals of two or more places, do not
supply ciphers but follow copy.
0.22453
1.263
4
2.60
3.4567
78
12.6
---------
102.14423
13.33. Copy is followed in the use of the word None or a cipher to
indicate None in figure columns. If neither one appears in the
copy, leaders are inserted, unless a clear is specifically
requested.
13.34. In columns of figures under the heading � s d, if a whole
number of pounds is given, one cipher is supplied under s and
one under d; if only shillings are given, one cipher is
supplied under d.
13.35. In columns of fi gures under Ft In, if only feet are given,
supply cipher under In; if only inches are given, clear under
Ft; if ciphers are used for None, place one cipher under both
Ft and In.
13.36. In any column containing sums of money, the period and ciphers
are omitted if the column consists entirely of whole dollars.
Continued heads
13.37. In continued lines an em dash is used between the head and the
word Continued. No period is carried after a continued line.
13.38. Continued heads over tables will be worded exactly like the
table heading. Notes above tables are repeated; footnote
references are repeated in boxheads and in continued lines.
Dashes or rules
13.39. Rules are not carried in reading columns or columns consisting
of serial or tracing numbers, but are carried through all
figure columns.
13.40. Parallel rules are used to cut off figures from other figures
below that are added or subtracted; also, generally, above a
grand total.
Ditto (do.)
13.41. The abbreviation do. is used to indicate that the previous line
is being repeated instead of repeating the line, verbatim, over
and over. It is used in reading columns only, lowercased and
preceded by leaders (6 periods) when there is matter in
preceding column. If ditto marks are requested, closing quotes
will be used.
13.42. Capitalize Do. in the first and last columns. These are
indented 1 or 2 ems, depending on the length of the word being
repeated, or the width of the column; the situation will
determine as it is encountered.
13.43. In mixed columns made up of figure and reading-matter items,
do. is used only under the latter items.
13.44. Do. is not used--
(1) In a figure or symbol column (tracing columns are
figure columns);
(2) In the first line under a centerhead in the column in
which the centerhead occurs;
(3) Under a line of leaders or a rule;
(4) Under an item italicized or set in boldface type for a
specific reason (italic or boldface do. is never used; item
is repeated);
(5) Under an abbreviated unit of quantity or other
abbreviations; or
(6) Under words of three letters or less.
13.45. Do. is used, however, under a clear space and under the word
None in a reading column.
13.46. Do. does not apply to a reference mark on the preceding item.
The reference mark, if needed, is added to do.
13.47. Leaders are not used before Do. in the first column or before
or after Do. in the last column.
13.48. In a first and/or last column 6 ems or less in width, a 1-em
space is used before Do. In all other columns 6 ems or less in
width, six periods are used. Bearoff is not included.
13.49. In a first and/or last column more than 6 ems in width, 2 ems
of space are used before Do. In all other columns more than 6
ems in width, six periods are used. Bearoff space is not
included. If the preceding line is indented, the indention of
Do. is increased accordingly.
13.50. Do. under an indented item in an inside reading column, with or
without matter in preceding column, is preceded by six periods
which are indented to align with item above.
Dollar mark
13.51. The dollar mark or any other money symbol is placed close to
the figure; it is used only at the head of the table and under
cross rules when the same unit of value applies to the entire
column.
13.52. In columns containing mixed amounts (as money, tons, gallons,
etc.), the dollar mark, pound mark, peso mark, or other symbol,
as required, is repeated before each sum of money.
13.53. If several sums of money are grouped together, they are
separated from the nonmoney group by a parallel rule, and the
symbol is placed on the fi rst figure of the separated group
only.
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13.54. In a double money column, dollar marks are used in the first
group of figures only; en dashes are aligned.
$7-$9
10-12
314-316
1,014-1,016
13.55. The dollar mark is omitted from a first item consisting of a
cipher.
0 but $0.12
$300 13.43
500 15.07
700 23.18
13.56. The dollar mark should be repeated in stub or reading columns.
0 to $0.99..........
$1 to $24...........
$25 to $49..........
$50 to $74..........
Figure columns
13.57. Figures align on the right, with an en space bearoff . There is
no bearoff on leaders.
13.58. In a crowded table the bearoff may be reduced in figure columns
only. It is preferable to retain the bearoff .
13.59. Figures in parentheses align.
13.60. In double rows of figures in a single column, connected by a
dash, a plus, or minus sign, and in dates appearing in the form
9-4-08, the dashes or signs can be aligned.
13.61. Plus or minus signs at the left of figures are placed against
the figures regardless of alignment; plus and minus signs at
the right of figures are cleared.
13.62. Words and Roman numerals in fi gure columns are aligned on the
right with the figures, without periods.
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13.63. Figures (including decimal and common fractions) expressing
mixed units of quantity (feet, dollars, etc.) and figures in
parentheses are aligned on the right.
13.64. Decimal points are aligned except in columns containing numbers
that refer to mixed units (such as pounds, dollars, and
percentage) and have irregular decimals.
13.65. It is preferred that all columns in a table consisting entirely
of figure columns be centered.
Footnotes and references
13.66. Footnotes to tables are numbered independently from footnotes
to text unless requested by committee or department.
13.67. Superior figures are used for footnote references, beginning
with 1 in each table.
13.68. If figures might lead to ambiguity (for example, in connection
with a chemical formula), asterisks, daggers, or italic
superior letters, etc., may be used.
13.69. When items carry several reference marks, the superior-figure
reference precedes an asterisk, dagger, or similar character
used for reference. These, in the same sequence, precede
mathematical signs. A thin space is used to bear off an
asterisk, dagger, or similar character.
13.70. Footnote references are repeated in boxheads or in continued
lines over tables.
13.71. References to footnotes are numbered consecutively across the
page from left to right.
13.72. Footnote references are placed at the right in reading columns
and symbol columns, and at the left in figure columns (also at
the left of such words as None in figure columns), and are
separated by a thin space.
13.73. Two or more footnote references occurring together are
separated by spaces, not commas.
13.74. In a figure column, a footnote reference standing alone is set
in parentheses and flushed right. In a reading column, it is
set at the left in parentheses and is followed by leaders, but
in the last column it is followed by a period, as if it were a
word. In a symbol column it is set at the left and cleared.
13.75. Numbered footnotes are placed immediately beneath the table. If
a sign or letter reference in the heading of a table is to be
followed, it is not changed to become the first numbered
reference mark. Th e footnote to it precedes all other
footnotes. The remaining footnotes in a table will follow this
sequence: footnotes (numbers, letters, or symbols); Note.--;
then Source:.
13.76. For better makeup or appearance, footnotes may be placed at the
end of a lengthy table. A line reading ``Footnotes at end of
table.'' is supplied.
13.77. If the footnotes to both table and text fall together at the
bottom of a page, the footnotes to the table are placed above
the footnotes to the text, and the two groups are separated by
a 50-point rule fl ush left; but if there are footnotes to the
text and none to the table, the 50-point rule is retained.
13.78. Footnotes to cut-in and indented tables and tables in rules are
set full measure, except when footnotes are short, they can be
set in 1 em under indented table.
13.79. Footnotes are set as paragraphs, but two or more short
footnotes should be combined into one line, separated by not
less than 2 ems.
13.80. The footnotes and notes to tables are set solid.
13.81. Footnotes and notes to tables and boxheads are set the same
size, but not smaller than 6 point, unless specified otherwise.
13.82. Footnotes to tables follow tabular style in the use of
abbreviations, figures, etc.
13.83. In footnotes, numbers are expressed in figures, even at the
beginning of a note or sentence.
13.84. If a footnote consists entirely or partly of a table or
leaderwork, it should always be preceded by introductory matter
carrying the reference number; if necessary, the copy preparer
should add an introductory line, such as ``/1/ See the following
table:''.
13.85. An explanatory paragraph without specific reference but
belonging to the table rather than to the text follows the
footnotes, if any, and is separated from them or from the table
by space.
Fractions
13.86. All fractions are set flush right to the bearoff.
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13.87. Fractions standing alone are expressed in figures, even at the
beginning of a line, but should be spelled out at the beginning
of a footnote.
Headnotes
13.88. Headnotes should be set lowercase, but not smaller than 6
point, bracketed, and period omitted at end, even if the
statement is a complete sentence; but periods should not be
omitted internally if required by sentence structure.
13.89. Headnotes are repeated under continued heads but the word
Continued is not added to the headnote.
Indentions and overruns
Subentries
13.90. The indention of subentries is determined by the width of the
stub or reading column. Subentries in columns more than 15 ems
wide are indented in 2-em units; in columns 15 ems or less,
with short entry lines and few overruns, 2-em indentions are
also used. All overruns are indented 1 em more.
13.91. Subentries in columns of 15 ems or less are indented in 1-em
units. Overruns are indented 1 additional em space.
Total, mean, and average lines
13.92. All total (also mean and average) lines are indented 3 ems. In
very narrow stub columns, total lines may be reduced to 1- or
2-em indentions, depending on length of line.
13.93. Where overrun of item above confl icts, the total line is
indented 1 em more. Runovers of total lines are also indented 1
em more.
13.94. It is not necessary to maintain uniform indention of the word
Total throughout the same table. The word Total is supplied
when not in copy.
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Italic
13.95. Names of vessels and aircraft (except in columns consisting
entirely of such names), titles of legal cases (except v. for
versus), and certain scientific terms are set in italic. The
word ``Total'' and headings in the column do not affect the
application of this rule. In gothic typefaces without italic,
quotes are allowed.
13.96. Set ``See'' and ``See also'' in roman.
Leaders
13.97. Leaders run across the entire table except that they are
omitted from a last reading column.
13.98. The style of leadering is guided by two rules: (1) Tables with
a single reading column leader from the bottom line, or (2)
tables with any combination of more than one reading or symbol
column leader from the top line.
13.99. If leadering from the top line, overruns end with a period.
13.100. A column of dates is regarded as a reading column only if
leaders are added; in all other cases it is treated as a figure
column.
13.101. In tables with tracing figures on left and right of page,
leader from top line.
Numerals in tables
13.102. Figures, ordinals, and fractions are used in all parts
of a table, except fractions that will be spelled out at the
beginning of a footnote.
Parallel and divide tables are discouraged
13.103. Parallel tables are set in pairs of pages; beginning on a
left-hand page and running across to facing right-hand page,
leader from the top line.
13.104. Heads and headnotes center across the pair of pages, with 2-em
hanging indention for three or more lines when combined measure
exceeds 30 picas in width. Two-line heads are set across the
pair of pages. A single-line head or headnote is divided
evenly, each part set flush right and left, respectively. Words
are not divided between pages.
13.105. Boxheads and horizontal rules align across both pages.
13.106. Boxheads are not divided but are repeated, with Continued
added.
13.107. Tracing figures are carried through from the outside columns of
both pages and are set to ``leader from the top line.''
13.108. In divide tables that are made up parallel, with stub column
repeated, the head and headnote repeat on each succeeding page,
with Continued added to the head only.
13.109. Tables with tracing figures or stub, or both, repeating on the
left of odd pages, are divide tables and not parallel tables.
Over such tables the heads are repeated, with Continued added.
Reading columns
13.110. Figures or combinations of figures and letters used to form a
reading column align on left and are followed by leaders. Do.
is not used under such items.
13.111. The en dash is not to be used for to in a reading column; if
both occur, change to to throughout.
13.112. Cut-in items following a colon are indented 2 ems.
13.113. A single entry under a colon line should be run in; retain the
colon.
13.114. Numerical terms, including numbered streets, avenues, etc., are
expressed in figures, even at the beginning of an item.
Symbol columns
13.115. A column consisting entirely of letters, letters and figures,
symbols, or signs, or any combination of these, is called a
symbol column. It should be set flush left and cleared, except
when it takes the place of the stub, it should then be
leadered. No closing period is used when such column is the
last column. Blank lines in a last column are cleared. Do. is
not used in a symbol column.
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13.116. Columns composed of both symbols and figures are treated as
figure columns and are set flush right. In case of blank lines
in a last column, leaders will be used as in figure columns.
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Tables without rules
13.117. It is preferable to set all tables alike; that is, without
either down rules or cross rules and with roman boxheads. When
so indicated on copy, by ordering agency, tabular matter may be
set without rules, with italic boxheads.
13.118. Column heads over figure columns in 6- or 8-point leaderwork
are set in 6-point italic.
13.119. Horizontal rules (spanner) used between a spread or upper level
column heading carried over two or more lower level column
headings are set continuous and without break, from left to
right, between the two levels of such headings.
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13.120. More than one figure column, also illustrating use of dollar
mark, rule, bearoff , etc.
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Units of quantity
13.121. Units of quantity in stub columns are set in lowercase in
plural form and placed in parentheses.
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13.122. Units of quantity and other words as headings over figure
columns are used at the beginning of a table or at the head of
a continued page or continued column in a double-up table.
13.123. Over figure columns, units of quantity and other words used as
headings, and the abbreviations a.m. and p.m., if not included
in the boxheads, are set in italic and are placed immediately
above the figures, without periods other than abbreviating
periods. In congressional work (gothic), or at any time when
italic is not available, these units should be placed in the
boxheads in parentheses. Any well-known abbreviation will be
used to save an overrun, but if one unit of quantity is
abbreviated, all in the same table will be abbreviated. If
units change in a column, the new units are set in italic with
space above and no space below. The space is placed both above
and below only when there is no italic available.
Quoted tabular work
13.124. When a table is part of quoted matter, quotation marks will
open on each centerhead and each footnote paragraph, and, if
table is end of quoted matter, quotation marks close at end of
footnotes. If there are no footnotes and the table is the end
of the quotation, quotation marks close at end of last item.