Key points: ● Make sure your tables have a clear purpose. ● Use a layout that maximizes readability. ● Take care with selecting which data to include. ● Simplify as much as possible without introducing bias. ● Make sure numbers and decimals are displayed with clarity.  Researcher's guide for the preparation of tables by Siv Fonnes and Jacob Rosenberg This article, published in the Journal of Surgical Research  in 2025 , applies to reporting quantitative research but some p

Key points: ● Have the text in your figures proofread before converting them into an image. ● Remember to translate the text in your figures if you have created them using your first language. ● Check whether you need to use points or commas as decimal separators in your data points. ● Take care when copying or re-sizing your images. Figure preparation is not always within your control, especially when you are working with co-authors! It’s also easy to overlook your data pres