Effective Figures and Tables
8- 17
Make sure the symbols that represent data points are big enough to read and are easily distinguishable from each other (and if possible define them on the graph rather than in the figure legend). Also make sure that the increments on the axes are appropriate for the data shown. For example, a small difference in values can be made to look very large or a large difference made to look very small if inappropriate increments are used. The scale of the axes should also be uniform. The values on an axis usually extend from 0 to the highest number of any data point on the graph. If all values are very high, it may be appropriate to put a break in the axis (and the bars, on a bar graph) to indicate to the reader that a set of values has been skipped on the axis.
As for all figures, provide legends for your graphs. In general, the legends should
▪ Give enough information that the reader can understand the graph and its intended message without reading the text.
▪ Define abbreviations and explain symbols used in the graph.
▪ Name the method used; describe the method in detail if that is the journal’s style.
▪
Be as short as possible.
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