Table of contents

  1. Choosing the correct chart
  2. Choice of data
  3. Comparing data sets – shared horizons
  4. Comparisons of magnitude (size)
  5. Time series
  6. Bar charts for time series
  7. Line charts for time series
  8. Dot plot with line for time series
  9. Multiple time series
  10. Small changes over time, not starting the y-axis at zero
  11. Ranking
  12. Part-to-whole
  13. Deviation
  14. Distribution
  15. Correlation

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Comparing data sets – shared horizons

Start data that are likely to be compared from the same point on a chart – a shared horizon. Use a clustered chart to compare values; only the first category is easily comparable in stacked bar charts.

Do

Example of chart allowing easy comparisons

Adoptions by sex
England and Wales, 1998 to 2012

A bar and line chart with the line showing the total of adoptions by sex, and two bars for the breakdown of adoption by males and females.

Do not

Example of stacked bar chart where comparability is more difficult

Adoptions by sex
England and Wales, 1998 to 2012

A stacked bar chart only showing the breakdown of adoption by males and females.