Table Column Headers
Good column headers identify the contents of a column quickly and precisely. Microsoft recommends specific labels, sentence-style capitalization, and structures that do not force readers to combine each header with cell text as one sentence.
Make column headers concise and specific, use a consistent capitalization style, and write them as labels rather than sentence fragments that depend on the cells below.
Key details
Important caveats
Capitalization Boundary
Microsoft uses sentence-style capitalization for column headers.
Sentence Boundary
Avoid constructing a table so the column header must combine with every cell to form a complete sentence.
Specificity Boundary
Use concise, specific headers that identify the data in each column rather than vague labels when a more informative term is available.
Further guidance
Practical Application
Write column headers as concise, specific labels that tell readers what the column contains. Use parallel wording and a consistent capitalization style rather than making readers reconstruct a sentence across the header and cells.
Reader Check
Can a reader understand each column without reading several data rows, and are units or time periods stated where needed?
Worked Example
Prefer “Response time (hours)” over a vague header such as “Time.” If every value is a percentage, make that unit clear in the header or table context.
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.
- Tables — Microsoft Style Guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft Style Guide · House-style guidance on when structured data belongs in a table instead of a simple list