“Figure 1 and 2” or “Figures 1 and 2”





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up vote
2
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1












I would like to know which one of the following is correct:





  1. Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...

  2. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that...

  3. Figure 1 and 2 indicates that...

  4. other possibilities?











share|improve this question






























    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite
    1












    I would like to know which one of the following is correct:





    1. Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...

    2. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that...

    3. Figure 1 and 2 indicates that...

    4. other possibilities?











    share|improve this question


























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite
      1









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite
      1






      1





      I would like to know which one of the following is correct:





      1. Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...

      2. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that...

      3. Figure 1 and 2 indicates that...

      4. other possibilities?











      share|improve this question















      I would like to know which one of the following is correct:





      1. Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...

      2. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that...

      3. Figure 1 and 2 indicates that...

      4. other possibilities?








      grammatical-number






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Nov 14 '13 at 13:12









      mplungjan

      27.4k371108




      27.4k371108










      asked Nov 14 '13 at 12:49









      SoftTimur

      296159




      296159






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          0
          down vote



          accepted










          Try substituting your terms for others while keeping the grammar, and it'll be a bit more natural.



          1. Cats Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
          2. Cat Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
          3. Cat Bob and Jim coughs up hair balls


          I'm pretty sure you should be using the plural form (Figures, Cats) for the noun. I'm not so sure about the verb (indicate, cough), but using the singular seems to imply that it's something that happens in general, while the plural is more active. I'd go with 1 myself.






          share|improve this answer




























            up vote
            1
            down vote













            The correct is
            Figure 1 and 2 indicate that



            We do not use "Figures" because the word is not used as common noun but as a proper noun with identifier 1 and 2.
            So it is basically "Figure 1 and Figure 2"; to reduce wordings we compact it as "Figure 1 and 2". Capitalization of "F" is required.



            Since subject is plural the verb would be "indicate".



            Though, some journals accept and prefer as Figures 1 and 2, so in such case, we edit as "Figures 1 and 2 indicate". "Figures 1-4 indicate"



            Best Sci-Edit Publications (sci-edit.net)






            share|improve this answer






























              up vote
              0
              down vote













              I agree with Sci-Edit Publications. Bob and Jim (as per xpdite's examples) are names/titles and not positions (e.g., 1 and 2), hence their usage is different. Consider the collections in the attached image. You can refer to an item in a collection either by its name/title or its position. The names/titles of figures in a text could be lengthy or identical, hence are preferably identified by their position.



              enter image description here



              In my opinion, the following is correct, depending on the intended usage:





              1. Bob and Jim cough up hair...


              2. Cat 1 and Cat 2 cough up hair...


              3. Cat 1 and 2 cough up hair... (short form)


              Similarly:




              1. The age chart and population plot indicate that...


              2. Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...


              3. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that... (short form)


              Notice the use of "Cat" and "Figure" instead of "cat" and "figure".
              And if this is still unconvincing, consider the sentence: January 1 and 2 are public holidays.






              share|improve this answer























              • In analytics, the result relies on taking all relevant information and combining. So the "analysis" of a large amount of information, figures, and charts leads to meaningful findings. Referring to Project-Process-Management. Example: The analysis of figure one and two indicates....
                – FrankMK
                Nov 30 '17 at 9:25




















              up vote
              0
              down vote













              If you aren't writing for Sci-Edit Publications, you may be interested in how other publications handle in-text references to multiple numbered figures (illustrations). As a freelance copy editor, I have worked for many book publishers with differing preferences on such things as whether to capitalize the word figure in an in-text cross reference, whether to identify individual figures within a chapter as (for example) Figure 1-1 or Figure 1.1, and whether to render the word figure in the caption itself as initial-cap F and lowercase igure or as large-cap F and small-cap IGURE.



              In a similar vein, some publications insist on repeating the word in in-text references to multiple figures (as in "see Figure 2-6 and Figure 2-7"), while others approve of using plural figures in such situations (as in "see figures 12 and 13"). But I have never worked for a publisher that insisted on using singular Figure as a lead-in to a reference to multiple figure numbers (as in "see Figure 4.6 and 4.7").



              The Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition (2010) has a fairly brief discussion of in-text cross references, which includes these relevant remarks:




              3.9 Text references in numbered illustrations. If there are more than a handful of illustrations in a work, they normally beat numbers [cross reference to a discussion of working numbers for unnumbered illustrations omitted], and all text references to them should be by the numbers: "as figure 1 shows...," "compare figures 4 and 5." ... In text, the word figure is typically set roman, lowercased, and spelled out except in parenthetical references ("fig. 10").




              Evidently, Chicago is not swayed by the theory that "Figure 1" is a proper name, rather than a simple number-associated designation.



              Most (but not all) of the U.S. publishers I've worked with follow Chicago in lowercasing the word figure in cross references. On the other hand, many (and perhaps most) break with Chicago in spelling out figure even in parenthetical references. I should note that most of my work is in mainstream nonfiction and college textbook publishing, rather than in strictly scientific publishing, that work experience may skew my impression of industry standards somewhat.



              If you are writing or editing for a mainstream U.S. publisher, your primary authority for handling in-text references will be the publisher's house style. If it doesn't have a rule on this point (which is unlikely) and your text isn't governed by a specialty style such as MLA, you are free to act on your own preferences. On this point of style, as on most others, Chicago's guidelines are generally reasonable and consistent, and they are widely respected in U.S. publishing. I would be more inclined to follow its recommendations than those of a random publisher that happens to be very enthusiastic—not to say proselytical—about the idiosyncratic house style that it has adopted.





              To sum up, if you choose to follow Chicago to the letter, you would express your example as




              Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




              or




              Figure 1 and figure 2 indicate that...




              On the other hand, if you establish a rule to spell Figure (when used to indicate numbered illustrations) with an initial-cap F throughout your book, but elect to follow Chicago in all other respects, you would express you example as




              Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




              or




              Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...




              Either way, the figures are plural and the verb indicate is plural, too.






              share|improve this answer





















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                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

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                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes








                up vote
                0
                down vote



                accepted










                Try substituting your terms for others while keeping the grammar, and it'll be a bit more natural.



                1. Cats Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
                2. Cat Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
                3. Cat Bob and Jim coughs up hair balls


                I'm pretty sure you should be using the plural form (Figures, Cats) for the noun. I'm not so sure about the verb (indicate, cough), but using the singular seems to imply that it's something that happens in general, while the plural is more active. I'd go with 1 myself.






                share|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote



                  accepted










                  Try substituting your terms for others while keeping the grammar, and it'll be a bit more natural.



                  1. Cats Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
                  2. Cat Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
                  3. Cat Bob and Jim coughs up hair balls


                  I'm pretty sure you should be using the plural form (Figures, Cats) for the noun. I'm not so sure about the verb (indicate, cough), but using the singular seems to imply that it's something that happens in general, while the plural is more active. I'd go with 1 myself.






                  share|improve this answer























                    up vote
                    0
                    down vote



                    accepted







                    up vote
                    0
                    down vote



                    accepted






                    Try substituting your terms for others while keeping the grammar, and it'll be a bit more natural.



                    1. Cats Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
                    2. Cat Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
                    3. Cat Bob and Jim coughs up hair balls


                    I'm pretty sure you should be using the plural form (Figures, Cats) for the noun. I'm not so sure about the verb (indicate, cough), but using the singular seems to imply that it's something that happens in general, while the plural is more active. I'd go with 1 myself.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Try substituting your terms for others while keeping the grammar, and it'll be a bit more natural.



                    1. Cats Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
                    2. Cat Bob and Jim cough up hair balls
                    3. Cat Bob and Jim coughs up hair balls


                    I'm pretty sure you should be using the plural form (Figures, Cats) for the noun. I'm not so sure about the verb (indicate, cough), but using the singular seems to imply that it's something that happens in general, while the plural is more active. I'd go with 1 myself.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Nov 14 '13 at 13:16









                    xpdite

                    561




                    561
























                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        The correct is
                        Figure 1 and 2 indicate that



                        We do not use "Figures" because the word is not used as common noun but as a proper noun with identifier 1 and 2.
                        So it is basically "Figure 1 and Figure 2"; to reduce wordings we compact it as "Figure 1 and 2". Capitalization of "F" is required.



                        Since subject is plural the verb would be "indicate".



                        Though, some journals accept and prefer as Figures 1 and 2, so in such case, we edit as "Figures 1 and 2 indicate". "Figures 1-4 indicate"



                        Best Sci-Edit Publications (sci-edit.net)






                        share|improve this answer



























                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote













                          The correct is
                          Figure 1 and 2 indicate that



                          We do not use "Figures" because the word is not used as common noun but as a proper noun with identifier 1 and 2.
                          So it is basically "Figure 1 and Figure 2"; to reduce wordings we compact it as "Figure 1 and 2". Capitalization of "F" is required.



                          Since subject is plural the verb would be "indicate".



                          Though, some journals accept and prefer as Figures 1 and 2, so in such case, we edit as "Figures 1 and 2 indicate". "Figures 1-4 indicate"



                          Best Sci-Edit Publications (sci-edit.net)






                          share|improve this answer

























                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote









                            The correct is
                            Figure 1 and 2 indicate that



                            We do not use "Figures" because the word is not used as common noun but as a proper noun with identifier 1 and 2.
                            So it is basically "Figure 1 and Figure 2"; to reduce wordings we compact it as "Figure 1 and 2". Capitalization of "F" is required.



                            Since subject is plural the verb would be "indicate".



                            Though, some journals accept and prefer as Figures 1 and 2, so in such case, we edit as "Figures 1 and 2 indicate". "Figures 1-4 indicate"



                            Best Sci-Edit Publications (sci-edit.net)






                            share|improve this answer














                            The correct is
                            Figure 1 and 2 indicate that



                            We do not use "Figures" because the word is not used as common noun but as a proper noun with identifier 1 and 2.
                            So it is basically "Figure 1 and Figure 2"; to reduce wordings we compact it as "Figure 1 and 2". Capitalization of "F" is required.



                            Since subject is plural the verb would be "indicate".



                            Though, some journals accept and prefer as Figures 1 and 2, so in such case, we edit as "Figures 1 and 2 indicate". "Figures 1-4 indicate"



                            Best Sci-Edit Publications (sci-edit.net)







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited 5 mins ago

























                            answered Oct 8 '15 at 7:06









                            Sci-Edit Publications

                            112




                            112






















                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote













                                I agree with Sci-Edit Publications. Bob and Jim (as per xpdite's examples) are names/titles and not positions (e.g., 1 and 2), hence their usage is different. Consider the collections in the attached image. You can refer to an item in a collection either by its name/title or its position. The names/titles of figures in a text could be lengthy or identical, hence are preferably identified by their position.



                                enter image description here



                                In my opinion, the following is correct, depending on the intended usage:





                                1. Bob and Jim cough up hair...


                                2. Cat 1 and Cat 2 cough up hair...


                                3. Cat 1 and 2 cough up hair... (short form)


                                Similarly:




                                1. The age chart and population plot indicate that...


                                2. Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...


                                3. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that... (short form)


                                Notice the use of "Cat" and "Figure" instead of "cat" and "figure".
                                And if this is still unconvincing, consider the sentence: January 1 and 2 are public holidays.






                                share|improve this answer























                                • In analytics, the result relies on taking all relevant information and combining. So the "analysis" of a large amount of information, figures, and charts leads to meaningful findings. Referring to Project-Process-Management. Example: The analysis of figure one and two indicates....
                                  – FrankMK
                                  Nov 30 '17 at 9:25

















                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote













                                I agree with Sci-Edit Publications. Bob and Jim (as per xpdite's examples) are names/titles and not positions (e.g., 1 and 2), hence their usage is different. Consider the collections in the attached image. You can refer to an item in a collection either by its name/title or its position. The names/titles of figures in a text could be lengthy or identical, hence are preferably identified by their position.



                                enter image description here



                                In my opinion, the following is correct, depending on the intended usage:





                                1. Bob and Jim cough up hair...


                                2. Cat 1 and Cat 2 cough up hair...


                                3. Cat 1 and 2 cough up hair... (short form)


                                Similarly:




                                1. The age chart and population plot indicate that...


                                2. Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...


                                3. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that... (short form)


                                Notice the use of "Cat" and "Figure" instead of "cat" and "figure".
                                And if this is still unconvincing, consider the sentence: January 1 and 2 are public holidays.






                                share|improve this answer























                                • In analytics, the result relies on taking all relevant information and combining. So the "analysis" of a large amount of information, figures, and charts leads to meaningful findings. Referring to Project-Process-Management. Example: The analysis of figure one and two indicates....
                                  – FrankMK
                                  Nov 30 '17 at 9:25















                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote










                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote









                                I agree with Sci-Edit Publications. Bob and Jim (as per xpdite's examples) are names/titles and not positions (e.g., 1 and 2), hence their usage is different. Consider the collections in the attached image. You can refer to an item in a collection either by its name/title or its position. The names/titles of figures in a text could be lengthy or identical, hence are preferably identified by their position.



                                enter image description here



                                In my opinion, the following is correct, depending on the intended usage:





                                1. Bob and Jim cough up hair...


                                2. Cat 1 and Cat 2 cough up hair...


                                3. Cat 1 and 2 cough up hair... (short form)


                                Similarly:




                                1. The age chart and population plot indicate that...


                                2. Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...


                                3. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that... (short form)


                                Notice the use of "Cat" and "Figure" instead of "cat" and "figure".
                                And if this is still unconvincing, consider the sentence: January 1 and 2 are public holidays.






                                share|improve this answer














                                I agree with Sci-Edit Publications. Bob and Jim (as per xpdite's examples) are names/titles and not positions (e.g., 1 and 2), hence their usage is different. Consider the collections in the attached image. You can refer to an item in a collection either by its name/title or its position. The names/titles of figures in a text could be lengthy or identical, hence are preferably identified by their position.



                                enter image description here



                                In my opinion, the following is correct, depending on the intended usage:





                                1. Bob and Jim cough up hair...


                                2. Cat 1 and Cat 2 cough up hair...


                                3. Cat 1 and 2 cough up hair... (short form)


                                Similarly:




                                1. The age chart and population plot indicate that...


                                2. Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...


                                3. Figure 1 and 2 indicate that... (short form)


                                Notice the use of "Cat" and "Figure" instead of "cat" and "figure".
                                And if this is still unconvincing, consider the sentence: January 1 and 2 are public holidays.







                                share|improve this answer














                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer








                                edited Nov 30 '17 at 7:36

























                                answered Nov 30 '17 at 4:00









                                amatek

                                11




                                11












                                • In analytics, the result relies on taking all relevant information and combining. So the "analysis" of a large amount of information, figures, and charts leads to meaningful findings. Referring to Project-Process-Management. Example: The analysis of figure one and two indicates....
                                  – FrankMK
                                  Nov 30 '17 at 9:25




















                                • In analytics, the result relies on taking all relevant information and combining. So the "analysis" of a large amount of information, figures, and charts leads to meaningful findings. Referring to Project-Process-Management. Example: The analysis of figure one and two indicates....
                                  – FrankMK
                                  Nov 30 '17 at 9:25


















                                In analytics, the result relies on taking all relevant information and combining. So the "analysis" of a large amount of information, figures, and charts leads to meaningful findings. Referring to Project-Process-Management. Example: The analysis of figure one and two indicates....
                                – FrankMK
                                Nov 30 '17 at 9:25






                                In analytics, the result relies on taking all relevant information and combining. So the "analysis" of a large amount of information, figures, and charts leads to meaningful findings. Referring to Project-Process-Management. Example: The analysis of figure one and two indicates....
                                – FrankMK
                                Nov 30 '17 at 9:25












                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote













                                If you aren't writing for Sci-Edit Publications, you may be interested in how other publications handle in-text references to multiple numbered figures (illustrations). As a freelance copy editor, I have worked for many book publishers with differing preferences on such things as whether to capitalize the word figure in an in-text cross reference, whether to identify individual figures within a chapter as (for example) Figure 1-1 or Figure 1.1, and whether to render the word figure in the caption itself as initial-cap F and lowercase igure or as large-cap F and small-cap IGURE.



                                In a similar vein, some publications insist on repeating the word in in-text references to multiple figures (as in "see Figure 2-6 and Figure 2-7"), while others approve of using plural figures in such situations (as in "see figures 12 and 13"). But I have never worked for a publisher that insisted on using singular Figure as a lead-in to a reference to multiple figure numbers (as in "see Figure 4.6 and 4.7").



                                The Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition (2010) has a fairly brief discussion of in-text cross references, which includes these relevant remarks:




                                3.9 Text references in numbered illustrations. If there are more than a handful of illustrations in a work, they normally beat numbers [cross reference to a discussion of working numbers for unnumbered illustrations omitted], and all text references to them should be by the numbers: "as figure 1 shows...," "compare figures 4 and 5." ... In text, the word figure is typically set roman, lowercased, and spelled out except in parenthetical references ("fig. 10").




                                Evidently, Chicago is not swayed by the theory that "Figure 1" is a proper name, rather than a simple number-associated designation.



                                Most (but not all) of the U.S. publishers I've worked with follow Chicago in lowercasing the word figure in cross references. On the other hand, many (and perhaps most) break with Chicago in spelling out figure even in parenthetical references. I should note that most of my work is in mainstream nonfiction and college textbook publishing, rather than in strictly scientific publishing, that work experience may skew my impression of industry standards somewhat.



                                If you are writing or editing for a mainstream U.S. publisher, your primary authority for handling in-text references will be the publisher's house style. If it doesn't have a rule on this point (which is unlikely) and your text isn't governed by a specialty style such as MLA, you are free to act on your own preferences. On this point of style, as on most others, Chicago's guidelines are generally reasonable and consistent, and they are widely respected in U.S. publishing. I would be more inclined to follow its recommendations than those of a random publisher that happens to be very enthusiastic—not to say proselytical—about the idiosyncratic house style that it has adopted.





                                To sum up, if you choose to follow Chicago to the letter, you would express your example as




                                Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




                                or




                                Figure 1 and figure 2 indicate that...




                                On the other hand, if you establish a rule to spell Figure (when used to indicate numbered illustrations) with an initial-cap F throughout your book, but elect to follow Chicago in all other respects, you would express you example as




                                Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




                                or




                                Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...




                                Either way, the figures are plural and the verb indicate is plural, too.






                                share|improve this answer

























                                  up vote
                                  0
                                  down vote













                                  If you aren't writing for Sci-Edit Publications, you may be interested in how other publications handle in-text references to multiple numbered figures (illustrations). As a freelance copy editor, I have worked for many book publishers with differing preferences on such things as whether to capitalize the word figure in an in-text cross reference, whether to identify individual figures within a chapter as (for example) Figure 1-1 or Figure 1.1, and whether to render the word figure in the caption itself as initial-cap F and lowercase igure or as large-cap F and small-cap IGURE.



                                  In a similar vein, some publications insist on repeating the word in in-text references to multiple figures (as in "see Figure 2-6 and Figure 2-7"), while others approve of using plural figures in such situations (as in "see figures 12 and 13"). But I have never worked for a publisher that insisted on using singular Figure as a lead-in to a reference to multiple figure numbers (as in "see Figure 4.6 and 4.7").



                                  The Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition (2010) has a fairly brief discussion of in-text cross references, which includes these relevant remarks:




                                  3.9 Text references in numbered illustrations. If there are more than a handful of illustrations in a work, they normally beat numbers [cross reference to a discussion of working numbers for unnumbered illustrations omitted], and all text references to them should be by the numbers: "as figure 1 shows...," "compare figures 4 and 5." ... In text, the word figure is typically set roman, lowercased, and spelled out except in parenthetical references ("fig. 10").




                                  Evidently, Chicago is not swayed by the theory that "Figure 1" is a proper name, rather than a simple number-associated designation.



                                  Most (but not all) of the U.S. publishers I've worked with follow Chicago in lowercasing the word figure in cross references. On the other hand, many (and perhaps most) break with Chicago in spelling out figure even in parenthetical references. I should note that most of my work is in mainstream nonfiction and college textbook publishing, rather than in strictly scientific publishing, that work experience may skew my impression of industry standards somewhat.



                                  If you are writing or editing for a mainstream U.S. publisher, your primary authority for handling in-text references will be the publisher's house style. If it doesn't have a rule on this point (which is unlikely) and your text isn't governed by a specialty style such as MLA, you are free to act on your own preferences. On this point of style, as on most others, Chicago's guidelines are generally reasonable and consistent, and they are widely respected in U.S. publishing. I would be more inclined to follow its recommendations than those of a random publisher that happens to be very enthusiastic—not to say proselytical—about the idiosyncratic house style that it has adopted.





                                  To sum up, if you choose to follow Chicago to the letter, you would express your example as




                                  Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




                                  or




                                  Figure 1 and figure 2 indicate that...




                                  On the other hand, if you establish a rule to spell Figure (when used to indicate numbered illustrations) with an initial-cap F throughout your book, but elect to follow Chicago in all other respects, you would express you example as




                                  Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




                                  or




                                  Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...




                                  Either way, the figures are plural and the verb indicate is plural, too.






                                  share|improve this answer























                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote









                                    If you aren't writing for Sci-Edit Publications, you may be interested in how other publications handle in-text references to multiple numbered figures (illustrations). As a freelance copy editor, I have worked for many book publishers with differing preferences on such things as whether to capitalize the word figure in an in-text cross reference, whether to identify individual figures within a chapter as (for example) Figure 1-1 or Figure 1.1, and whether to render the word figure in the caption itself as initial-cap F and lowercase igure or as large-cap F and small-cap IGURE.



                                    In a similar vein, some publications insist on repeating the word in in-text references to multiple figures (as in "see Figure 2-6 and Figure 2-7"), while others approve of using plural figures in such situations (as in "see figures 12 and 13"). But I have never worked for a publisher that insisted on using singular Figure as a lead-in to a reference to multiple figure numbers (as in "see Figure 4.6 and 4.7").



                                    The Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition (2010) has a fairly brief discussion of in-text cross references, which includes these relevant remarks:




                                    3.9 Text references in numbered illustrations. If there are more than a handful of illustrations in a work, they normally beat numbers [cross reference to a discussion of working numbers for unnumbered illustrations omitted], and all text references to them should be by the numbers: "as figure 1 shows...," "compare figures 4 and 5." ... In text, the word figure is typically set roman, lowercased, and spelled out except in parenthetical references ("fig. 10").




                                    Evidently, Chicago is not swayed by the theory that "Figure 1" is a proper name, rather than a simple number-associated designation.



                                    Most (but not all) of the U.S. publishers I've worked with follow Chicago in lowercasing the word figure in cross references. On the other hand, many (and perhaps most) break with Chicago in spelling out figure even in parenthetical references. I should note that most of my work is in mainstream nonfiction and college textbook publishing, rather than in strictly scientific publishing, that work experience may skew my impression of industry standards somewhat.



                                    If you are writing or editing for a mainstream U.S. publisher, your primary authority for handling in-text references will be the publisher's house style. If it doesn't have a rule on this point (which is unlikely) and your text isn't governed by a specialty style such as MLA, you are free to act on your own preferences. On this point of style, as on most others, Chicago's guidelines are generally reasonable and consistent, and they are widely respected in U.S. publishing. I would be more inclined to follow its recommendations than those of a random publisher that happens to be very enthusiastic—not to say proselytical—about the idiosyncratic house style that it has adopted.





                                    To sum up, if you choose to follow Chicago to the letter, you would express your example as




                                    Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




                                    or




                                    Figure 1 and figure 2 indicate that...




                                    On the other hand, if you establish a rule to spell Figure (when used to indicate numbered illustrations) with an initial-cap F throughout your book, but elect to follow Chicago in all other respects, you would express you example as




                                    Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




                                    or




                                    Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...




                                    Either way, the figures are plural and the verb indicate is plural, too.






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    If you aren't writing for Sci-Edit Publications, you may be interested in how other publications handle in-text references to multiple numbered figures (illustrations). As a freelance copy editor, I have worked for many book publishers with differing preferences on such things as whether to capitalize the word figure in an in-text cross reference, whether to identify individual figures within a chapter as (for example) Figure 1-1 or Figure 1.1, and whether to render the word figure in the caption itself as initial-cap F and lowercase igure or as large-cap F and small-cap IGURE.



                                    In a similar vein, some publications insist on repeating the word in in-text references to multiple figures (as in "see Figure 2-6 and Figure 2-7"), while others approve of using plural figures in such situations (as in "see figures 12 and 13"). But I have never worked for a publisher that insisted on using singular Figure as a lead-in to a reference to multiple figure numbers (as in "see Figure 4.6 and 4.7").



                                    The Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition (2010) has a fairly brief discussion of in-text cross references, which includes these relevant remarks:




                                    3.9 Text references in numbered illustrations. If there are more than a handful of illustrations in a work, they normally beat numbers [cross reference to a discussion of working numbers for unnumbered illustrations omitted], and all text references to them should be by the numbers: "as figure 1 shows...," "compare figures 4 and 5." ... In text, the word figure is typically set roman, lowercased, and spelled out except in parenthetical references ("fig. 10").




                                    Evidently, Chicago is not swayed by the theory that "Figure 1" is a proper name, rather than a simple number-associated designation.



                                    Most (but not all) of the U.S. publishers I've worked with follow Chicago in lowercasing the word figure in cross references. On the other hand, many (and perhaps most) break with Chicago in spelling out figure even in parenthetical references. I should note that most of my work is in mainstream nonfiction and college textbook publishing, rather than in strictly scientific publishing, that work experience may skew my impression of industry standards somewhat.



                                    If you are writing or editing for a mainstream U.S. publisher, your primary authority for handling in-text references will be the publisher's house style. If it doesn't have a rule on this point (which is unlikely) and your text isn't governed by a specialty style such as MLA, you are free to act on your own preferences. On this point of style, as on most others, Chicago's guidelines are generally reasonable and consistent, and they are widely respected in U.S. publishing. I would be more inclined to follow its recommendations than those of a random publisher that happens to be very enthusiastic—not to say proselytical—about the idiosyncratic house style that it has adopted.





                                    To sum up, if you choose to follow Chicago to the letter, you would express your example as




                                    Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




                                    or




                                    Figure 1 and figure 2 indicate that...




                                    On the other hand, if you establish a rule to spell Figure (when used to indicate numbered illustrations) with an initial-cap F throughout your book, but elect to follow Chicago in all other respects, you would express you example as




                                    Figures 1 and 2 indicate that...




                                    or




                                    Figure 1 and Figure 2 indicate that...




                                    Either way, the figures are plural and the verb indicate is plural, too.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Nov 30 '17 at 8:42









                                    Sven Yargs

                                    110k18234490




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