This article is all about types of graphs and charts that are commonly used in English writing.
Understanding Types of Graphs and Charts
Graphs can be used to show trends, patterns, relationships, and comparisons between different sets of data.
There are many different types of graphs, each with its own unique characteristics and uses. Some of the most common types of graphs include:
- Line graphs
- Bar graphs
- Area graphs
- Histograms
- Pie charts
- Scatter plots
Each of these graphs is designed to display different types of data and can be used to communicate different types of information.
Importance of Graphs
In addition to being useful for communicating information, graphs are also an important tool for analyzing data. By looking at graphs, we can identify trends and patterns that can help us to make informed decisions about how to interpret and use the data.
Different Types of Graphs and Charts
Bar Graphs
Examples of when to use a bar graph:
- Comparing the sales of different products
- Showing the number of students in each grade level
- Displaying the results of a survey with multiple-choice questions
Line Graphs
Examples of when to use a line graph:
- Showing the temperature changes over time
- Displaying the stock prices of a company over a year
Pie Graphs
Examples of when to use a pie graph:
- Displaying the percentage of a company’s revenue from different products
- Illustrating the percentage of a budget allocated to different departments
Histograms
Examples of when to use a histogram:
- Displaying the distribution of test scores in a class
- Illustrating the distribution of salaries in a company
- Showing the distribution of heights in a population
Flow Charts
Here are some examples of flow chart symbols:
Symbol | Description |
Oval | Start/End |
Rectangle | Process |
Diamond | Decision |
Parallelogram | Input/Output |
Organizational Charts
Organizational charts can be used to help employees understand their roles and responsibilities, as well as to help managers make decisions about staffing and resource allocation.
Scatter Plots
Scatter plots are useful for identifying patterns and correlations in data.
- Showing the relationship between a person’s age and their income
- Displaying the correlation between a company’s advertising budget and its sales
- Illustrating the correlation between a student’s study time and their test scores
Gantt Charts
Bubble Charts
Bubble charts are a type of data visualization that display data points as bubbles on a two-dimensional graph. Each bubble represents a data point, and its size and position on the graph indicate its value in relation to other data points.
Bubble charts are useful for displaying data that has three variables, such as sales data that includes product type, sales volume, and profit margin. They are often used in business, finance, and marketing to help decision-makers understand complex data sets and identify trends or patterns.
Heat Map
A heat map is a type of data visualization that uses color to represent data values on a two-dimensional grid. Heat maps are often used to display large sets of data in a way that is easy to understand and interpret.
The color of each cell in the grid indicates the value of the data point it represents, with darker colors indicating higher values and lighter colors indicating lower values.
Heat maps are commonly used in fields such as finance, marketing, and healthcare to identify trends, patterns, and outliers in large data sets.
Applying Types of Graphs and Charts in English Vocabulary
Describing Trends
Graphs and charts are great for describing trends in data. Here are some useful words and phrases you can use to describe trends:
Words and Phrases | Definition |
Increase | To become larger or more |
Decrease | To become smaller or less |
Rise | To go up |
Fall | To go down |
Peak | The highest point |
Trough | The lowest point |
Fluctuate | To change frequently |
Plateau | To remain constant |
Comparing Data
Graphs and charts are also useful for comparing data. Here are some words and phrases you can use to compare data:
Words and Phrases | Definition |
Higher | Greater in amount or value |
Lower | Lesser in amount or value |
More | A greater amount or number |
Less | A smaller amount or number |
Similarly | In the same way |
Conversely | In contrast |
In comparison | To compare |
Review:
Graphs and Charts | Use |
Bar Graphs | To compare data |
Line Graphs | To show trends over time |
Pie Charts | To show percentages |
Scatter Plots | To show correlations |
Histograms | To show distribution |