LaTeX Tables

Purpose

This skill creates clean, publication-ready tables in LaTeX for regression results and summary statistics, using standard academic formatting.

When to Use

• Converting model output into LaTeX tables

• Standardizing table style across a paper

• Adding notes, significance stars, and labels

Instructions

Follow these steps to complete the task:

Step 1: Understand the Context

Before generating any code, ask the user:

• What type of table is needed (regression, summary stats, balance)?

• What software produced the results (Stata, R, Python)?

• Which formatting style is required (journal-specific, AEA, etc.)?

Step 2: Generate the Output

Based on the context, generate LaTeX code that:

• Uses booktabs for clean horizontal rules

• Includes labels and captions for referencing in the paper

• Adds notes for standard errors and significance

• Aligns numeric columns for readability

Step 3: Verify and Explain

After generating output:

• Explain how to compile the table

• Highlight any assumptions in the formatting

• Suggest refinements for journal submission

Example Prompts

• "Create a regression table with three models in LaTeX"

• "Format summary statistics with mean and sd columns"

• "Add significance stars and standard error notes"

Example Output

% ============================================ % Regression Table % ============================================ \begin{table}[htbp]\centering \caption{Effect of Treatment on Outcome} \label{tab:main_results} \begin{tabular}{lccc} \toprule & (1) & (2) & (3) \ \midrule Treatment & 0.125*** & 0.118*** & 0.102** \ & (0.041) & (0.039) & (0.046) \ Controls & No & Yes & Yes \ Fixed Effects & No & Yes & Yes \ \midrule Observations & 2,145 & 2,145 & 2,145 \ R-squared & 0.18 & 0.24 & 0.31 \ \bottomrule \end{tabular} \begin{tablenotes} \small \item Notes: Standard errors in parentheses. * p<0.10, ** p<0.05, *** p<0.01. \end{tablenotes} \end{table}

Requirements

Software

• LaTeX distribution (TeX Live or MikTeX)

Packages

• booktabs

• threeparttable (optional for notes)

Best Practices

• Keep tables compact and readable

• Use consistent notation for standard errors and stars

• Provide clear captions and labels

Common Pitfalls

• Overly wide tables that do not fit the page

• Missing notes for standard errors

• Inconsistent labeling across tables

References

• LaTeX booktabs documentation

• AEA Author Guidelines

Changelog

v1.0.0

• Initial release