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Formatly formats your document — margins, spacing, fonts, headings, page layout, and structure — all matched to your chosen style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). We don't edit your writing, check grammar, or validate citations. You write it; we make it look right.

Which citation styles are supported?

Formatly supports APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago Manual of Style, Harvard, and Turabian. We continuously evaluate new styles based on user requests.

How long does formatting take?

Most documents are formatted in about 30 seconds. The time depends on document size and length, but our engine is optimised for speed without sacrificing accuracy.

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How to Format a Figure Caption in APA, MLA, and Chicago

You’ve Spent Hours on Your Figures—Now the Captions Are Ruining Everything

You’ve perfected your chart, your graph, or your photograph. The data is clean, the colors are professional, and it finally tells the story you need. Then you hit the caption line, and suddenly you’re googling “figure caption format APA” for the tenth time. Should it be bold? Italic? Period after the number? You’re not alone—caption formatting is one of the most overlooked, yet frustrating, parts of academic writing. Let’s fix it, once and for all.

Understanding the Core Rules of Figure Captions

Before we dive into the step-by-step, you need to understand the philosophy behind each style. APA 7th treats captions as a concise description, MLA 9th as a label and source note, and Chicago 17th as a formal title. Each has distinct punctuation, placement, and typography rules. The good news? Once you learn the pattern, you can apply it to any figure.

For a deeper look at how these styles handle other elements, check out our guide on How to Format Block Quotes in APA, MLA, and Chicago: A Side-by-Side Guide.

Step-by-Step: How to Format Figure Captions in Each Style

APA 7th Edition Figure Captions

APA 7th is the most streamlined. The caption appears directly below the figure, on the same line as the figure number. Use bold for the label and number, then italic for the title. The entire caption ends with a period.

Format: Figure 1 in bold, followed by an italicized title, then a period.
Example: Figure 1 Quarterly Revenue Growth by Sector.
Placement: One double-spaced line below the figure, left-aligned.
Note: If you include a general note, place it below the caption in a new paragraph, starting with Note. in italics.

For a complete overview of APA formatting, see The Ultimate APA 7th Edition Formatting Guide.

MLA 9th Edition Figure Captions

MLA is the most straightforward for visual works. The label “Fig.” is used, followed by a number and a period. The caption itself is a description or title, and it’s placed below the figure. MLA does not require italics or bold for the label, but consistency is key.

Format: Fig. 1. Description or title.
Example: Fig. 1. Graph showing the correlation between study hours and GPA.
Placement: Below the figure, flush left, double-spaced.
Source Note: If the figure is reproduced from another source, include a full citation after the caption, indented and labeled “Source:”.

For more MLA guidance, read our MLA 9th Edition Formatting Guide: Everything You Need to Know.

Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition Figure Captions

Chicago uses a formal, title-case approach. The word “Figure” is abbreviated as “Fig.” and followed by a number and a period. The caption is written as a sentence or title, in plain text, and placed below the figure. Chicago is the most flexible but also the most variable depending on the discipline.

Format: Fig. 1. Title or descriptive sentence.
Example: Fig. 1. Annual sales data for the North American region, 2020–2025.
Placement: Below the figure, flush left, single-spaced within the caption, double-spaced between captions.
Source Note: Use a footnote or endnote for the source, not the caption itself.

For a deep dive, see the Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition: The Ultimate Formatting Guide.

Pro-Tips for Avoiding Common Figure Caption Mistakes

Even after learning the rules, small errors creep in. Here are the most frequent pitfalls and how to sidestep them.

Mixing styles: Never use APA’s bold/italic combo in an MLA paper. Stick to one style guide throughout your document.
Forgetting the period: APA and Chicago always end with a period. MLA can, but it’s not strictly required—check your instructor’s preference.
Inconsistent numbering: Figures should be numbered sequentially (Fig. 1, Fig. 2) and cross-referenced in your text. If you add or remove a figure, update all references.
Overly long captions: Keep captions concise. Save detailed analysis for the text body. A good rule is 1–2 sentences max.
Ignoring source attribution: If your figure is not original, you must cite the source. This is a common oversight that can lead to plagiarism accusations.

For more common pitfalls, check out 5 Common APA Formatting Mistakes (And How to Fix Them).

Stop Wasting Time on Manual Formatting

You now have the exact rules for figure caption format in APA, MLA, and Chicago. But knowing the rules and applying them to every single figure in a 50-page paper are two different things. That’s where Formatly comes in. Our rule-based automation engine handles captions, headings, citations, and more—so you can focus on your research, not your formatting. Try Formatly today and see how effortless academic paper formatting can be.