EXAMPLE 1 What makes a clear table?

How well educated are adults? Table 10.1 presents the data for people aged 25 years and over. This table illustrates some good practices for data tables. It is clearly labeled so that we can see the subject of the data at once. The main heading describes the general subject of the data and gives the date because these data will change over time. Labels within the table identify the variables and state the units in which they are measured. Notice, for example, that the counts are in thousands. The source of the data appears at the foot of the table. This Census Bureau publication in fact presents data from our old friend, the Current Population Survey.