AG-R03: Tables and Figures — Design Rules, Three-Line Format, and Figure Standards for GMJ

Table Formatting, Figure Quality Requirements, and Common Design Errors Explained

Abstract

The GMJ Author Toolkit (AG-R03) provides a structured, self-contained guide to the design and presentation of tables and figures in accordance with the Georgian Medical Journal’s submission standards. The guide ensures clarity, consistency, and compliance with international academic publishing practices.

The document is organized into three components: (1) theoretical foundations explaining when to use tables versus figures, the required three-line table format, and figure quality and legend requirements; (2) a comprehensive pre-submission checklist ensuring correct formatting, resolution, and labeling; and (3) a complete worked example demonstrating correct and incorrect table and figure design, including annotated explanations.

Particular emphasis is placed on the three-line table format, which prohibits vertical lines and internal horizontal rules, and on figure standards including minimum 300 DPI resolution and self-contained legends. The guide also highlights common errors such as missing footnotes, undefined abbreviations, incorrect error bar labeling, and duplication of data between text and tables.

This resource supports authors in producing clear, accurate, and publication-ready tables and figures for all manuscript types submitted to the Georgian Medical Journal.