CURRENT CONCEPTS Graphs, Tables, and Figures in Scientific Publications: The Good, the Bad, and How Not to Be the Latter Lauren E. Franzblau, Kevin C. Chung, MD, MS Graphs, figures, and tables can save readers time and energy, aid their understanding of an article, and reduce the word count of the main text. However, many graphics submitted to and published in scientific journals fail to meet their potential and include mistakes that jeopardize their clarity. Many formats are available for presenting data, as well as a variety of techniques for enhancing interpretability. When the appropriate format is used to depict data, it conveys the greatest amount of information in the clearest fashion, complements the text, and deepens readers’ understanding. The aims of this article are to draw attention to the necessity of well-constructed graphs, tables, and figures in scientific publications, and to show how to create them. (J Hand Surg 2012;37A:591 –596. Copyright © 2012 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.) Key words Graphs, tables, charts, figures, manuscripts. I N THE HEART OF EVERY research article is its data, the information that gives rise to conclusions. How- ever, without proper presentation, the data can be misinterpreted or, worse, ignored. To elude this trap, authors must use well-constructed graphs, figures, and tables to display data and trends, and to summarize information. Illustrations, or graphics, have 3 main pur- poses and advantages over text: first, they portray com- plex data and relationships in a way that is easier to interpret and understand 1–8 ; second, they reduce read- ing time by summarizing and highlighting key findings or trends so that they are readily visible 5,6 ; and third, they reduce the overall word count. 3,4,7 Well-designed graphics make data easier to under- stand by explicitly depicting trends and key points, and they are valuable assets to any paper or presentation. These visual aids enrich readers’ understanding and improve the accuracy of their interpretations of the data. 9 On the other hand, poorly fashioned graphics slow down retrieval of data and lead to incorrect inter- pretations of findings. 4,6,8 Thus, it is imperative that the quality of graphs, figures, and tables that are submitted to and published in scientific journals be carefully con- sidered and for data to be presented in such a way that strengthens the overall manuscript. The aims of this article are to bring to light common mistakes in graph, table, and figure construction, and to show how to create high-quality graphics that will enhance readers’ acquisition and understanding of data. WHAT NOT TO DO Many submitted, and even published, manuscripts con- tain illustrations of “suboptimal quality.” 8 Table 1 shows common errors that lead to this failure to fulfill graphical and tabular potential. The most glaring over- sight is selecting the wrong format to present data. Suboptimal designs omit important information about the data that should be displayed. Many computer programs offer graphing features that are easy to use and have a plethora of design elements. However, they tend to produce overcompli- FromtheSectionofPlasticSurgery,DepartmentofSurgery,UniversityofMichiganHealthSystem;Ann Arbor, MI. Received for publication November 11, 2011; accepted in revised form December 27, 2011. Supported in part by grants from the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01 AR062066), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01 AR047328), and a Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24 AR053120) (to K.C.C.). No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article. Corresponding author: Kevin C. Chung, MD, MS, Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Sur- gery, University of Michigan Health System, 2130 Taubman Center, SPC 5340, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0340; e-mail: kecchung@umich.edu. 0363-5023/12/37A03-0037$36.00/0 doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2011.12.041 Current Concepts ©  ASSH  Published by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  591