Usage of charts and graphs in Microsoft Excel
Both charts and graphs display data graphically. The difference between them is how the data is compiled and presented. Charts are mostly used to analyze data in an aesthetically pleasing way for easier comprehension whereas graphs tend to focus on examining raw data trends. An example of a chart would be a pie chart while an example of a graph is a line chart.
As nobody enjoys looking through spreadsheets full of raw data, people all around the world use Microsoft Excel’s various inbuilt charts and graphs to display data graphically. With so many different charts and graphs options available, which one you should use?
Firstly, the choice of which type of chart or graph depends on the dataset that you have. For example, if you have data values that take place over a period of time, then you cannot use a pie chart to display your data. Instead, you need to use a line chart, XY scatter plot or area chart. Next, you need to consider who your target audience is and how you intend to present your data.
A line chart is used to show changes over a long period of time. Using a line chart, you can display labels on the horizontal axis to indicate time intervals. A column chart is used to compare between several data items or categories, where each of them has their own value. A bar chart is a column chart that displays the data on the y axis instead of the x axis. Both bar and column charts are always arranged in ascending order.
Additionally, you can combine certain chart types to create combination charts. A commonly used combination chart is a column chart combined with a line chart which is used to compare the projected target to actual results. In this case, the combination chart is more useful than two separate charts as it allows the user to directly compare the difference between the projected target and the actual results.
If you have a singular data set that is categorized and includes percentages, you should consider using a pie chart to display your data. A pie chart is able to show the proportion of each item as compared to the total amount.
Next, we have area charts, which are similar to line charts except the space under the line is filled in. You can also tell the percentage breakdown of data in an area chart over time, which is a feature that can also be found in a pie chart.
XY Scatter plots are favoured by statisticians as they help to show patterns or correlations in the dataset. Use an XY Scatter plot by highlighting the data that you want to use in the chart. Next, click on the Insert Tab followed by the Scatter Menu from the charts section. Select a scatter plot setting to insert the scatter plot into your excel worksheet. You can further edit your scatter plot in the chart styles section of the ribbon.