Figure References in Text
In-text figure references help readers connect prose to a visual. Use the figure’s actual label/number and, where possible, a cross-reference field so later renumbering does not leave stale references.
Refer to a figure by the same stable identifier used in its caption or title, such as “Figure 4,” and keep that identifier synchronized if figures move or are renumbered.
Key details
Important caveats
Tool Boundary
If the document system supports cross-reference fields or hyperlinks, use them to reduce manual renumbering errors; exact capitalization still follows house style.
Further guidance
Identifier
Use the same figure label and number in the prose that appears with the figure itself; do not invent a second naming system for the in-text reference.
Placement
Write the reference where the figure is discussed so the reader understands why to consult it rather than dropping an isolated “see figure” with no context.
Practical Application
Refer to a figure with the same stable identifier used in its caption or title, and place the reference where the figure becomes relevant to the discussion. Use automatic cross-reference fields when available so renumbering does not leave stale figure numbers in the prose.
Reader Check
Does every in-text figure reference resolve to exactly one figure, and would the identifier update safely if figures are inserted or reordered?
Worked Example
Write “Figure 4 shows the monthly trend” and generate “Figure 4” from the document’s cross-reference system when possible, rather than typing the number independently from the figure caption.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Create a cross-reference — Microsoft Support (opens in a new tab)Microsoft Support · Cross-references to headings, figures and other items; dynamic field/hyperlink behavior
- Citations, references and sources — ONS Service Manual (opens in a new tab)Office for National Statistics · House-style examples for in-document references to chapters, tables and figures