Human dimensions for inanimate objects?

Active expressions like “the table lists” and “the figure shows” are preferable to passive sentences beginning “data are listed” and “results are displayed.” Convening information clearly and vigorously is often more important than rigorous adherence to semantics. However, data and results shouldn't “argue” or “proclaim” those activities are the responsibility of the author. This point of view is also applied to detached participlesing words that don't have a noun to belong to.