Idea 18of 22Builds onWatch for uneven steps on a scaleA source says where the data came from
Fix a misleading graph
What does it take to turn a misleading graph into a fair one?
Today you'll discover
- what to fix first
- the words a fair graph needs
- a checklist for any graph
Think firstA garden graph with three problems
What should you fix first, so the bars tell the truth?
Decide first, then press Next. Go down the checklist: scale, steps, words, source.
The garden bars with a scale from 40, no title, no labels and no source. Then the scale starts at 0 and the bars look close. Then a title and axis labels appear, then a source line and the values 47, 44 and 42. The last step shows the bake sale graph with its unequal steps.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
A fair graph starts bars at 0, keeps equal steps, and has a title, labels and source.
Fair-graph checklistScale from 0 for bars. Equal steps. Same-size pictures, no 3-D. A title, axis labels and a source.
Easy to get wrongFixing a graph never changes the data. Only the drawing changes, so the look matches the numbers.
Key word
- fair graph
- a graph whose look matches its numbers, with everything a reader needs to check it
Ready to use it?
- Find what makes a graph misleading.
- Say how to redraw it fairly.