As tables often contain pure data, it is easy to pick and choose things for use in your paper. If you can reference a table multiple times for different uses in your paper, it will clearly indicate the strength of the data in relation to your argument. Do not merely reword the information in the table, but explain how the data are important and how the data correspond to your topic.
A table should be placed as close as possible to the text that references it. If you cite the table multiple times in a paper, place it nearby the first time it is referenced. The table itself should be aligned to the left of the paper.
Tables should be labeled "Table" along with the corresponding number and indented no more than one inch. (In the text, the table should be referred to with lowercase letters, such as "table 1.") Even if there is only one table, it should still be referred to as "table 1." Then provide a caption for the table on the next line. Use the title of the table from its original source. As for the table's format, if possible try to double-space the text.
At the bottom of the table should be the source, introduced by typing "Source:" and indented like the title. Then provide the Modern Language Association bibliographic information as if citing it normally. You will not need to cite it on your Works Cited page.
As there are different styles of writing papers, there are different ways to format a table. For instance, tables in American Psychological Association style do not have vertical lines. For the Turabian style, format the table in whatever way is most pleasing to the eye. How the table is aligned is not as important in this style, but it must be introduced in the text before it appears.