Creating & Formatting a Table

Tables are an efficient way of displaying large amounts of data. When presenting tables the table number is bold and listed above the table title. Table numbers are given successively (e.g. 1, 2, 3...). For example, “Table 1”. The title itself is italicised with the first letter of each major word Capitalized, does NOT end with a full stop, and is placed ABOVE the table. Double line spacing is continued within tables and only horizontal lines are used to differentiate table sections. Refer to the table in text BEFORE it appears on the page. When labelling a table the title should be able to be understood on its own. Do not split a table and/or its title over two pages. Generally, in text you use Times New Roman 12 point font, but, when compiling a table you can use from 8 to 12 point font to ensure your work fits on the page. A note directly below the table is used to explain abbreviations or symbols listed in the table. General notes are denoted by writing the word “Note” in italics followed by a full stop (Note.). Below are examples of tables for different statistical analyses. If you would like further information about creating tables using APA format, follow the guidelines in The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th Edition, 2019).

For examples of tables and step-by-step instructions detailing how to create and format an APA table in a word document see below.

Presenting Descriptive Data
Descriptive Data for Outcome Variables

Presenting a Sample Correlation Matrix

Inter-correlations Among Attitudes Held by GP's Towards Early Diagnosis of Dementia



Note. *p < .05. **p < .01

Regression Table (Hierarchical Regression)

Hierarchical Regression Analysis for Variables Predicting Child Outcomes for Step families



Note. R2 = .31 for Step 1; R2 change = .21 for Step 2 (p < .05). * p < .05.

ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) Table
Analysis of Variance for Classical Conditioning Experimental Condition


Note. Values enclosed in parentheses represent mean square errors. *p < .05. **p < .01.

Step-by-step instructions for Microsoft Word

Follow the steps below to create and format at Table using Microsoft Word. Furthermore, for examples of other types of tables including a descriptive statistics table, a correlation matrix, a regression table, and an ANOVA table, see the Results.



  • Left click on ‘Insert’ on your Word Menu

  • Left click on “Table”

  • Left click on Insert – Table

  • Enter number of columns and number of rows.

  • Click ‘OK’

  • A table (similar to below depending on the number of rows and columns you entered) will appear




  • Adjust your column widths to suit the needs of your table (NB: place the mouse on the vertical column line you wish to move. Once you see a straight vertical line with an arrow either side of it, left click your mouse and you can move the line to adjust your column width)

  • Enter your column/row headings and your data




  • Left click the mouse and move the mouse to highlight the top 3 cells of the last 3 columns

  • Right click the mouse and a drop-down menu will appear

  • Left click on ‘Merge Cells’

  • Type in the upper row heading




  • Left click the mouse and move the mouse to highlight the top 2 cells of the first column.

  • Right click the mouse and a drop-down menu will appear

  • Left click on ‘Merge Cells’




  • Left click the mouse and highlight all the cells in the last 3 rows (including the column headings)

  • Left click on the ‘Center’ button/icon on your word toolbar




  • Using your ‘Tables tools’ toolbar menu at the top of your screen, left click on ‘line style’ drop down box. This is the top selection at the far right hand side of the ‘Table tools’ menu. If the ‘Table tools’ menu isn’t visible at the top of your page, double click your cursor inside your table and the ‘Table tools’ tab will appear at the top of the toolbar. Click on it and your table formatting options will then appear.

  • In the ‘line style’ click down box, left click on ‘No Border’ (the first drop down option).

  • A ‘pencil’ will replace the mouse arrow that normally appears on your screen

  • Clicking on the left mouse button, move this pencil over the lines you want to erase in order to format the table to fit APA style (i.e. erase all of the vertical column lines and the 3 horizontal row lines across the inner section of the table. Leave the horizontal row lines at the top and bottom of the table as well as those that separate your column headings from the table data)




  • Give your table a Table Number and Title. Make sure the title is in italics (see example below).

  • The final step in formatting the table to APA requirements is to make the entire table (including the title, headings and any notes) double-spaced.

  • Place the mouse cursor in the upper left hand corner of the table. A cross with arrows at each corner will appear.

  • Left click on this cross to highlight the entire table.

  • Left click on ‘Paragraph’ in the ‘Home’ tab of your Word menu.

  • Change the line spacing to ‘Double’.

  • Press ‘OK’.


Table 1


Cronbach Alpha Coefficients for the BQ Subscales


View the video below to see how to create and format a table using Microsoft Word