Using contrast
Make sure to use lines with sufficient contrast; in other words, create a line that is bold
enough to clearly appear to your audience but thin enough to still convey specific
information.
Limiting multiple lines
When using multiple lines to compare trends, keep the number of lines to three or less.
Comparing more than three trends on the same line graph can create confusion for your
audience, especially if your graph is not in color.
Summary
Adhering to the guidelines in this document will help you create charts and graphs that
present information clearly. Of course, the three chart formats discussed here are not the
only ways to convey numerical data; other formats can effectively portray information as
well. The following table provides a quick guide to most of your choices:
Chart
Format
Description
Pie
Compares parts of a whole
Bar
Shows contrast between quantities
Line
Indicates the relationship of one variable to another
Area
Indicates the volume relationship of one variable to another
Scatter Plot
Correlates two factors by marking the points where particular events
occurred
Getting Ready to Chart
Excel offers several options for designing worksheets along with creating and modifying
charts. Even before you make your chart, however, you should consider creating range
names for your data. Specifying range names in advance will decrease the potential for
errors and enable you to add more data at a later date.
Designing Your Worksheet for Charting
You have two basic options for setting up your worksheet. First, you can design your
worksheet so the information to be charted is close together. Second, you can create a
summary section for charting. The right option for you will often depend on what the
worksheet is designed to do. Often worksheets are designed to track information; later on,
charting becomes a secondary purpose. With this type of worksheet, a summary section
may be the easiest. You can summarize the detailed data in a different area on your
worksheet and make it much easier for charting.