-Quick tip: How to use tables in your content
What is a table?
We all know a table when we see it. but how would you define it?
I’d say a table is a set of data organized by vertical columns and horizontal rows.
When to use a table
How to write an effective table
Some sample tables done in Word
P.S. In case you’re interested, I make all the tables in this article for my website with a WordPress plug-in called TablePress.
It’s a great piece of shareware I’m happy to recommend. If you need to make tables for your WordPress site, try it.
How to show your designer you want a table
All designers will recognize a table when they see it.
I’ve never had a designer turn a table into text, or flatten the whole thing down by removing the rows.
They may sigh or gripe a bit, because formatting a table makes more work for them. But once they set the standard for one table in your paper, all the other tables should follow the same format.
It’s up to them to make it look good and be easy to scan.
They may choose to use rules between every row. They may choose to use colors or tints on alternating rows.
guiding principles are whenever you have a lot of words describing the characteristics of a certain product, consider a table
whenever you want to compare and contrast 2 or more items according to various criteria
look up the principles of a table in Chicago–A Manual for Writers
go from the smallest, 2 columns on a full page
to 2X2
to 2 X 3 or 4
to a full page with numerous columns
show examples from white papers of each one
use some of the screenshots in March 2024
For more useful tips like this, get the free newsletter White Paper World.
