Figure Legend Maker
A guide to writing clear, complete, and journal-compliant figure legends. Templates and examples for scientific papers.
The Four Parts of a Figure Legend
Title
Brief description of the figure content. Should be informative but concise.
Example: Figure 1. Effect of drug treatment on tumor growth.
Methods
How the data was generated, analyzed, and tested.
Example: Data are mean ± SEM. P-values by two-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test.
Definitions
Explanation of symbols, colors, abbreviations, and thresholds.
Example: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. NS, not significant.
Sample Sizes
Number of subjects, replicates, or independent experiments.
Example: n=8 mice per group. Data from three independent experiments.
Example Legend
Sample Figure Legend
Figure 1. Effect of drug treatment on tumor growth in xenograft models. (A) Tumor volume over time in mice treated with vehicle (n=8), drug A (n=8), or drug B (n=8). Data are mean ± SEM. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 vs. vehicle by two-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test. (B) Representative tumor images at day 28. Scale bar, 1 cm. (C) Kaplan-Meier survival curve. P-value by log-rank test. Abbreviations: SEM, standard error of the mean; NS, not significant.
Common Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| SD | Standard deviation |
| SEM | Standard error of the mean |
| CI | Confidence interval |
| NS | Not significant |
| n | Sample size |
| N | Number of independent experiments |
| IQR | Interquartile range |
| HR | Hazard ratio |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you write a figure legend for a scientific paper?
A figure legend has three parts: (1) Title — brief description of the figure content, (2) Methods — how the data was generated and analyzed, (3) Definitions — explanation of symbols, colors, abbreviations, and statistical tests. Keep it concise but complete. Typical length: 100–300 words.
What should be included in a figure legend?
Include: figure title, experimental conditions, sample sizes, statistical tests used, significance thresholds, error bar type (SD, SEM, CI), and definitions of all symbols, colors, and abbreviations. State the number of independent experiments or replicates.
How long should a figure legend be?
Figure legends are typically 100–300 words. Nature and Cell recommend concise legends. The legend should be self-contained — a reader should understand the figure without reading the main text. However, avoid repeating detailed methods that belong in the Methods section.
Should figure legends repeat the main text?
No. Figure legends should complement the main text, not repeat it. The legend explains the figure’s content, symbols, and statistical methods. The main text interprets the figure’s significance in the broader context of the study.
What is the difference between a figure caption and a figure legend?
A figure caption is the title of the figure (e.g., "Figure 1. Effect of treatment on cell viability"). A figure legend is the complete description that includes the caption, methods, and definitions. Journals often use "legend" to mean the entire description.
How do I indicate statistical significance in a figure legend?
State the statistical test used (e.g., t-test, ANOVA, log-rank), the significance threshold (e.g., p < 0.05), and what the symbols mean (e.g., *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). Include the exact p-values for key comparisons if space permits.
Related Pages
Create Figures and Legends Together
FigureGuild auto-generates figure legends based on your data and chart type — ready for journal submission.
Try FigureGuild Free