Table of contents

  1. Line styles
  2. Axis labels and tick marks
  3. Legends or keys
  4. Long category names
  5. Subcategories
  6. Chart titles
  7. Chart labels
  8. Labelling values in a chart
  9. Annotation and footnotes

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Annotation and footnotes

Chart annotations can be very useful to highlight key messages in your data. They must be concise and relevant. Place annotations on the chart as close as possible to the data points of interest.

Avoid chart footnotes where possible. If extra information is needed:

  • annotate the chart
  • include the information in the statistical commentary accompanying the chart
  • add a footnote to the chart title

Number of divorces1
England and Wales, 1910 to 2011

Footnotes (include at end of accompanying copy text)
1 Divorce figures include both decree absolutes and decrees of nullity