Write headlines for your tables

Your tables are invisible.

Not literally. But readers skip them.

They see a block of numbers, a generic label at the top, and their eyes glaze over. They move on.

You spent time building that table. You chose the data carefully. But without a clear message, it's just noise.

Here's how to fix it: stop labelling your tables.

Start writing headlines for them instead. A label tells the reader what's in the table. A headline tells them what it means.

Compare these two:

Label: "X division Q3 budget versus actual"

Headline: "Revenue 10% above forecast in Q3"

The first one makes the reader work. They have to scan the table, find the key figure, and interpret it themselves. The second one does the work for them. They get the message instantly, even if they never look at the numbers.

This approach has two big benefits:

1. It makes your document easier to read. The headline reinforces the point you're making in the text. The reader doesn't have to decode the table to follow your argument.
2. It helps skimmers. Most people don't read reports word for word. They scan. If your headlines carry the key messages, skimmers can follow your logic without reading everything.

Think of it like a newspaper. The headlines tell the story. The articles add the detail. Your tables should work the same way.