Pictures, Numbers, and Results
I’ve heard that “a picture is worth a thousand words” originally was all about advertising because pictures let you see very quickly what the message is. It also applies in scientific writing. Study findings are reported in figures and tables. The text tells readers what to look for, interprets results, and states conclusions. It connects everything as a story that guides the reader. Here is a plan that may work for you, and it’s about reporting your results because that is where your figures and tables are.
Start by writing a list of your key findings. Use tables to report and compare number sets, like baseline characteristics or test results. Tables are useful for presenting summary data of the findings for different study groups. Use figures to illustrate patterns when seeing differences matters more than looking at rows and columns of the values used to construct the figure (for example, cumulative survival or dose–response curves). Column and line graphs, scatter plots, and pie charts all provide clear summaries of research findings. Flow diagrams show how study participants were selected and followed, or the sequence of events or study procedures.
When you write the Results section of your manuscript, introduce each of your tables and figures by telling which result it shows. Let the table or figure hold the full dataset for the reader to see. You can mention the method that was used. You don’t need to repeat details of the method, why you used that method, or how it was performed because you’ve already done that in the Methods section. In the text, tell the reader about key significant or nonsignificant differences to look for. Include p-values but do not repeat the data. Then explain what the evidence means. Number your figures and tables in the order they are first cited in the text. By following this plan, you develop an easy-to-follow story where the text, tables, and figures work together to deliver your message. The aim in reporting your results is to coordinate content without repetition or redundancy and with a clear explanation.
A friendly reminder: Words like markedly, strikingly, dramatically, obviously, clearly, or effectively describe differences but say nothing about whether they can be expected to occur less tha 5% of the time (p < 0.05). Marked, striking, dramatic, obvious, clear, or effective are best used to describe observed differences that did not reach significance. Always describe differences with p-values of < 0.05 as significant.
Legends and titles are informative, like newspaper headlines they tell what is shown, direct attention to the most important findings, and let the table or figure deliver their message at a glance. Are they worth 1000 words? You will know how many when your write the legend or title. Legends and captions indicate the method used but do not repeat details that are described in the Methods section or are shown in the figure itself.
Here is a checklist before submission:
✔ Is every figure and table mentioned and discussed in the text?
✔ Does the text state the finding before pointing to the actual data?
✔ Does the figure/table stand alone with its informative caption?
✔ Have you removed redundancy?
Always consult the instructions for authors of your target journal. Some limit the number of tables and figures, and most have specific requirements for their design and format.