Figures: General Guidance

Abstract

Figures are a crucial component of most research papers. Unfortunately, judging by the published literature, most medical researchers do not give their figures much thought. Figures are used far less often than they could be, and they are often low quality. Figures present much of the evidence from most research studies, so they should be designed more thoughtfully. When made well, they can be very engaging and convincing to the readers. Indeed, some people will even look at the figures first, and use them as the basis for deciding whether or not to read the rest of the paper (regrettably). Thus good figures are a key part of your paper, and you should devote time and attention to them. To paraphrase Alice in Wonderland, “What is the use of a journal paper without pictures?” [1].