A picture is worth a thousand words - but only if it's telling the right story.
Crafting a compelling veterinary scientific manuscript requires more than well-written text; it also demands clear and informative visual communication. Figures and captions are essential tools for illustrating complex concepts and presenting data, and their quality can elevate your manuscript’s impact significantly.
Citing Figures in Text
Your writing is strongest when it stands independently of the figures.
This approach ensures readers can grasp your main results without constantly flipping back and forth between text and visuals. To achieve this:
Paint a Picture with Words:
Describe the core result in the figure as if the reader cannot see it.
For example, instead of writing, In figure X we present the phylogenetic relatedness of Chimps and Humans, use descriptive language such as: The phylogenetic relatedness of Chimps and Humans approaches 98% (Fig. X).
This ensures clarity and maintains the flow of your narrative.
Avoid Direct References:
By embedding figure citations parenthetically, you make the reading experience seamless and encourage readers to focus on your scientific story first, with the figure serving as a supplementary resource.
Creating Figures that Tell a Story
Figures are at their best when they can independently
convey your manuscript’s key messages.
To test your figures’ effectiveness, share them with someone familiar with your work but unaware of your specific study. If they can understand the story from the figures alone, you’ve succeeded.
Key Principles
Start Strong:
Your first figure should introduce the paper's overall goal, setting the stage for the rest of the manuscript.
A thoughtfully designed cartoon or diagram often works well for this purpose.
Self-Explanatory Design: Figures should be interpretable without requiring additional context from captions or legends:
Label Lines Directly: Avoid referring to styles (e.g., dot-dashed line) in captions. Instead, label lines or elements directly within the figure.
Use Meaningful Titles: Replace generic labels like A or B with descriptive ones like Chimpanzee or Human to clarify individual panels.
Simplify and Clarify:
Cluttered visuals or ambiguous legends detract from your paper’s readability.
Focus on simplicity without sacrificing detail.
Crafting Informative Figure Captions
A well-written caption is as important as the figure itself.
Captions should allow readers to understand the figure’s story without needing to revisit the text.
Writing Captions
Begin with a Clear Title:
The first sentence acts as a title, succinctly summarizing what the figure shows.
For example: Comparison of phylogenetic relatedness between chimpanzees and humans.
Provide Detailed Context:
Explain the figure in a logical sequence.
Describe what the figure illustrates (e.g., key trends or findings).
Clarify the methods or variables, if relevant.
Highlight the significance of the data presented.
Avoid Redundancy:
The caption should complement the figure without repeating every element in detail.
Example of Effective vs. Ineffective Captions
Ineffective Caption: (Fig. 1): Graph showing phylogenetic relatedness.
Effective Caption: (Fig. 2): Phylogenetic relatedness between chimpanzees and humans, demonstrating a 98% similarity. Data are derived from comparative genomic analysis.
Rick’s Commentary
Figures and captions are more than visual aids;
they are vital components of your scientific storytelling.
By integrating clear, well-labeled visuals with descriptive, informative captions, you enhance the readability and impact of your veterinary manuscript. Treat figures and captions as an extension of your narrative - your readers will thank you for it.
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