Tables, together with their caption and title, should constitute an independent piece of information that can be appreciated without reading the main text.

Tables should be uncluttered. Avoid using text entries. So no “na” for “not applicable”, just leave the entry blank (no dash either). Use the last or first column, or a footnote to the table to make clear why there is no entry.

Columns and rows

If you have your table prepared, check whether you can switch columns and rows.

Human brains are much quicker in comparing vertically aligned numbers, than equally-spaced horizontal numbers.

Justification

Never use left or right alignment for column entries representing numbers. Use a form of decimal alignment of the entries: vertically align them on the decimal point if present, otherwise vertically align them with their least-significant digit vertically aligned. Avoid using exponential notation for numbers. Following these rules will result in tables for which only a superficial glance gives a reader already a good impression of where the large and where the small numbers are.

Caption and title

Use a very smart caption and short title that together form a self-contained unit.

Reuse

You might want to use the table later for your presentations. This recycling requirement puts large constraints on the maximum number of columns and rows that you can introduce.