CCE CCE Tables, Figures, and Special Elements Questions and Answers

Question 1

When should a table title appear in relation to the table itself?

Accepted Answer

Above the table, according to most editorial style guides.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Standardize the reference style consistently throughout the manuscript per the applicable style guide.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

The leftmost column that lists the row headings or categories.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Captions should not use directional words like 'above'; figures are identified by number.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

*, †, ‡, §, ‖, ¶ (asterisk, dagger, double dagger, section, parallel, pilcrow).

Answer

Chicago style and many other guides prescribe the sequence of symbols (*, †, ‡, §, ‖, ¶) for table footnotes to avoid confusion with numbered text footnotes.

CCE - Certified Copyeditor Practice Test

CCE - Certified Copyeditor Practice Test

CCE CCE Tables, Figures, and Special Elements Questions and Answers