Parts of a table

I was working with lots of tables last week. Information scattered on many pages was rearranged and put on tables for more clarity. Because I was focusing on tables for most part of last week, I decided to dig a bit about tables and their structure.

Broadly, there are two types of tables: Formal and informal. The formal tables are the ones we are familiar with and often encounter in user manuals . Tables that have proper titles and column headings belong to this type. Information in these type of tables can stand on its own. These tables are usually placed closer to the text. I feel the common look-up-a-value table is a an example of a formal table.

Informal or in-line text tables do not have columns or titles. They are part of the text and are self-explanatory. For me, they look a bit odd in documents.

Decision tables allow the user to take a decision and distance tables show data or values related to categories.

Structure of a Table

A table is identified by a brief and a descriptive table title. A few companies strictly follow a guideline that a table should be referenced in text before the appearance of the table. Such a reference in text can also be a hyperlink, even if the table is on the same page.

Headnotes are short notes, a word or two, appearing below the title. They are also set in parentheses (brackets).

Column headings run horizontally and row headings vertically. The stub is the leftmost row. Headings that form the top column are boxheads. If column headings spread across columns, they are called spanner heads or decked heads. If a line or a horizontal rule divides a main column heading and a spanner head, the line is a spanner rule. Spanner heads can be used to avoid repetition.

Tables also have section headings that precede column headings. Cut-in heads are headings that cut across columns in the table. They are also called field spanners.

The body or the field of the table consists of cells below the headings. No cell is left blank in a table. If required, they should be filled with appropriate symbols.

Tables also have footnotes, table notes and source notes. Footnotes are recognised by symbols such as asterisks or daggers. Table notes appear at the end of the table.

From my notes

The religion of one age is the literary entertainment of the next-Emerson (found in The God Delusion by acclaimed scientist Richard Dawkins).

Georges Perec's novel, The Void, is written without the letter "e".

Man is a wretched creature and death is a certainty-Thomas Bernhad

Ella Minnow Pea is a novel written by Mark Dunn. Letters start missing from the chapters in this novel.

All excess is ill, but drunkeness is of the worst sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and unmans men-William Penn

Cladogenesis is the way evolution proceeds-by an elaborate and complex series of branching events or episodes of speciation.

From a green perspective

When did the word “green” came to be widely associated with the environmental movement? In Century of New Words, John Ayto cites examples from 1971. The adjective was used to refer to environmentalists, who were “green” in their approach. In the 1970s, the colour green was associated with the protests against nuclear power stations in Germany, says the author.

It was in the early 90s that I came across this word. The Earth Summit at Rio in 1992 was the driving force. Words like “hotspots,”“sustainable development,” and “recycling” became the buzzwords of the decade. Other terms that become hits included global warming, greenhouse effect, nuclear winter, renewable energy, bioremediation, acid rain, pollution, smog, oil pollution, biodiversity, and extinction. Newspapers splashed several “green” stories and ran campaigns to caution people against the impending environmental doom. Green organisations and politicians brought green issues to the public arena by pitting development against the environment. Many made careers out of the "disaster scenarios" by starting non-governmental organisations and trusts.

Greenwashing

The word used to describe the recession-triggered enthusiasm for things green is “greenwashing.” Announcements by companies that they are going green are just PR spin.

Staycation

I like the word "staycation" because it justifies what I would love to do on weekends. Relax at home watching the TV, or reading a novel, or reading back issues of newspapers. If a large number decides to enjoy staycation, the environment will be the biggest beneficiaries.

I have always thought the days when bandhs and hartals are organised in India are the best ones to study air pollution. Vehicles will not be out on the road fearing stone throwing and violence by protesters. There will be a huge difference in the levels of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) in those days when the streets will be empty. Are pollution researchers listening?