figure (publishing)

A figure in writing and publishing is any graphic, text, table or other representation that is unaligned from the main flow of text. Another term for a figure is a floating block. Figures are commonly found in technical writing, including scientific and articles and books. They are said to be floating because they are not fixed in position on the page, but rather drift to the side of the page. An alternative name for figure is image or graphic. By placing pictures or other large items on the sides of pages rather than embedding them in the middle of the main flow of text, typesetting is more flexible and interruption to the flow of the narrative is avoided.
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