As you work on your dissertation or thesis, including comprehensive lists of figures and tables can greatly enhance the organization and navigability of your document. These supplementary indexes make it easy for your readers to quickly locate visual elements, data, and other key components within your work.

How to Create a List of Figures and Tables in Word

To create comprehensive lists of figures and tables within your dissertation or thesis, you’ll need to properly caption each visual element throughout your document. Use the “Insert Caption” feature under the References tab in Microsoft Word to label your figures and tables consistently.

Once you’ve captioned all visuals, you can then generate the actual lists by following these steps:

  • Position your cursor where you want the list of figures and/or tables to appear, typically after the table of contents.
  • Navigate to the References tab and select “Insert Table of Figures” to compile the list of figures. 
  • Repeat the process, this time choosing “Insert Table of Figures” to create the list of tables.

Word will automatically populate these lists with the captions and corresponding page numbers based on the labeling you’ve done throughout your document.

Example of a List of Tables and Figures

Here’s an example of what your list of figures and tables might look like:

List of Figures

Figure 1.1 Theoretical Framework……………15

Figure 2.3 Survey Participant Demographics…..23  

Figure 4.2 Thematic Analysis Process………..42

List of Tables

Table 3.1 Quantitative Data Collection Methods…31

Table 4.3 Qualitative Coding Scheme…………46

Table 5.2 Recommendations for Future Research…58

Remember to format these lists consistently with the rest of your dissertation, using the appropriate heading styles and alignment.

Additional Lists to Consider

In addition to the comprehensive lists of figures and tables, there are a few other supplementary indexes you may want to include in your dissertation or thesis:

Table of Contents

The table of contents (TOC) is a vital navigational tool in your dissertation. It lets readers easily locate specific sections, chapters, figures, and tables.

When creating your TOC, be sure to:

  • Include all major headings, such as chapters and primary sections
  • List each title with its corresponding page number
  • Maintain a clean, consistent layout with aligned page numbers
  • Use formatting (bold, italic, regular) to reflect the hierarchy of headings

Your TOC should incorporate entries for the reference list, figures, and tables at the end.

Adhering to your institution’s guidelines, often aligned with APA standards, is key when structuring your table of contents. This attention to detail demonstrates the rigor and organization you’ve applied to your dissertation.

Glossary

A glossary defines any specialized terms or industry-specific jargon used throughout your academic work. This ensures your readers, even those unfamiliar with the terminology, can fully comprehend the concepts presented.

List of Abbreviations

A list of abbreviations offers a quick reference for any shorthand or acronyms employed in your dissertation. This allows readers to easily look up the full meanings of these shortened forms.

When formatting these additional lists, it’s crucial to maintain the same level of care and consistency as your lists of figures and tables. This cohesive approach contributes to your academic document’s overall professionalism and readability.