Add and edit tables

I need to add a table to the research draft and then tidy it so the reviewers can read numbers quickly. Insert a 4x5 table on the Methods page showing sample ID, collection date, assay type, and result; populate the first two rows with the data already in the email from Dr. Patel; then format the header row bold, narrow the first column to fit sample codes, and right-align the result column. After that, run a quick spellcheck on the table and tell me if any dates look inconsistent.

Before I share this draft with the lab team, make the tables easier to scan for non-technical readers. Move the key metric column to the right, add a short one-line caption above each table that states why it matters, show totals or averages where relevant at the bottom, and highlight any cells where the result is outside the expected range so the PI can spot them at a glance.

I just inserted the sample table and two rows of data, but there are duplicate sample codes and I do not know if Dr. Patel mis-typed them or if I pasted the wrong rows. Priya and Omar will review and expect clean data. What is the safest way to verify which codes are correct and fix the table so I can send it back without causing confusion?

Every monthly report I spend hours restructuring the same tables to match reviewers’ habits and then repeat the same formatting fixes. I lose time and irritation builds with the PI. What one habit or template should I adopt so I stop redoing table layouts each month and the reviewers get consistent, scannable tables?