Which one is acceptable in an academic paper? Fig 4. show or Fig 4. shows?

Question

Is it right to say: > Fig. 4, **Show** the wireless transmission of data. Shouldn't it be: > Fig. 4, **Shows** the wireless transmission of data. By the way, another question would be, is it right to use both of mentioned forms in an academic paper? I mean, some one writes *Fig. 4, shows* in a paragraph and in another, in the same paper, writes *Fig. 4, show*?

Answer 1

It is shows. Figure 4 is a singular thing, so it needs a singular verb. It would only be plural if added to something else: "Figures 3 and 4 show . . . ."