figure vs picture

Question

Hi,Any (or almost any) technical documentation is abounding with phrases such as "as shown in Picture 1 ..." or "Figure 2 depicts ..."It just occurred to me that I don't quite understand what differs "picture" from "figure" (in technical writing).If you could shed some light on possible differences between the two terms?mus-te

GPY · Accepted Answer

"Figure 1", "Figure 2" etc. is the normal style. To me, in your context, "Picture 1" etc. seems inferior. I'd be surprised to see it used in a professionally produced technical document.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

GPY I'd be surprised to see it used in a professionally produced technical document.

I see....

A couple of follow-up questions if I may...

(1) Although "picture" would as you explained, look out of place in any professional tech writing, still I guess it might be pAssible to (at least occasionally) use "picture" for "figure" at presentations, workshops, seminars, and the like (just to avoid using the same word over and over again)?
(2) Technical documents (especially those existing only in electronic form) often contain many screenshots/snapshots.
Would it be correct to refer to screenshots as "figures" in writing? To me, a screenshot looks more like a picture?

Philip · Answer

Does exhibit a/b fit? Or is that just for courtrooms?

GPY · Answer

MUSCOVITE(1) Although "picture" would as you explained, look out of place in any professional tech writing, still I guess it might be pAssible to (at least occasionally) use "picture" for "figure" at presentations, workshops, seminars, and the like (just to avoid using the same word over and over again)?(2) Technical documents (especially those existing only in electronic form) often contain many screenshots/snapshots.Would it be correct to refer to screenshots as "figures" in writing? To me, a screenshot looks more like a picture?

1) In general text, there are all kinds of words, like "diagram", "illustration", "photograph", "chart", "graph", "table", "plan", "schematic", etc, depending on what exactly you are referring to. I would tend to avoid "picture" in a technical context. It seems a bit casual and woolly.

2) In this usage, "Figure" is correct for any type of illustration, including screenshots.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

Yet another (final! :-) follow-up question.

If you could explain differences (if any) among:

schema
scheme
schematic

(meaning the same kind of language [ = tech writing] of course).

GPY · Answer

In your context, a "schematic", short for "schematic diagram", is a diagram or illustration that is simplified or stylised in order to clearly show basic or outline information. I am not very familiar with "schema" being used in this sense, and I wouldn't use it myself. In technical writing, I most often see "schema" used in the sense of "database schema".

"scheme" is usually abstract. It is not generally used to refer to diagrams or illustrations. It may be possible in certain cases, if the diagram depicts something that could be thought of as a "scheme".

figure vs picture

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