Learn how to describe and explain graphs & charts in English

1. Describing Graphs & Charts
English Language Training
Kyra S. Huismann, B.A
Language Coach, Intercultural Trainer
www.kyracom.de

2. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
1. The Table
2. Can you explain a graph?
3. Criteria for kind of chart
4. Chart types
5. Vocabulary

3. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
The table

4. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de4
The table or spreadsheet: Start for charts
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
Careful when using German spreadsheet programme:
Decimal point and 1000 seperator are exchanged

5. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de5
Data for comparing charts
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts Exercise
male female
Jan 1 2
Feb 2 1
Mar 3 3
Apr 4 4
May 5 5
Jun 6 3

6. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Explaining a graph

7. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de7
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts

8. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de8
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
rounded edges
horizontal dimension = x-axis
Vertical dimension = y-axis
maximum / highest / peak
minimum / lowest / trough
line graphs
legend
scale, ranges from x to y
Title
axis label
To show trends and relationships - Identifying correlations
(Beziehungen) between 2 variables

9. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Criteria

10. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de10
Criteria for choosing a chart
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
– rich or simple data
– lines or points
– 2- or 3 dimensional
– highlight
simplify
compare
showing relationship (correlation)
– combination of different kinds
– target audience

11. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Chart Types

12. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de12
Graph
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
To plot data & examine the fluctuation over a period

13. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de13
Graph
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts

14. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de14
Barchart (horizontal)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts

15. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de15
Barchart (horizontal)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts

16. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de16
Simple Column
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
To simply compare data - a bar represents the measured value or
frequency
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Jan Feb Mar
Book Sales in T Euro
Book Sales in
T Euro

17. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de17
Simple Column
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts

18. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de18
Column (vertical, here using a picture instead of bars)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
To simply compare data - a bar represents the measured value or
frequency , use pictures for effect

19. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de19
Clustered Column Chart (gruppierte Säule)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
To compare values across categories

20. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de20
Clustered Column Chart (gruppierte Säule)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts

21. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de21
Stacked Column (gestapelte Balken)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
To compare parts to a whole

22. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de22
Stacked Column (gestapelte Balken)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts

23. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de23
Combined Chart (columns & graphs with 2 axes)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
To examine the correlation between 2 sets of data

24. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de24
Tornado Chart (two-sided bar chart)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
Sensitivity analysis for model simplification (distribution)
Source: humanrights.gov.au (estimated resident population)

25. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de25
Tornado Chart (two-sided bar chart)
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts

26. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de26
Pie Chart
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
To show % of a 100 – using segments

27. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de27
Area Chart
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
Source: United Nations Population Division

28. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de28
Gant Chart
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
Source: ygraph.com

29. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de29
Gant Chart with Excel
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
Scale 7 day(s)
day
CW 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 1 2 3
Time Weeks Day Start date End date
Cate-
gory
10:00-11:30 13 Mo 07.10.13 30.12.13 K
09:45-11:15 10 Mo 07.10.13 09.12.13 P
7.Jan
Kyracom Business Solutions
01.10.2013
14.Jan
3.Dez
10.Dez
17.Dez
24.Dez
31.Dez
12.Nov
19.Nov
26.Nov
In-Company Schedule
date
1.Okt
8.Okt
15.Okt
22.Okt
29.Okt
5.Nov
04.03.2014

30. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de30
Radar Chart
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
Data relates to a central point to give an overview – often for
performance analysis

31. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de31
Bubble Chart
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
To present data with 3 values visually

32. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de32
Bubble Map
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
Source: www.centerpoint.dsc.k12.ar.us

33. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de33
Wordle - visualisation
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
Source: www.wordle.net

34. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Voabaulary

35. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de35
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
verbs adverbs
slightly
moderately
considerably
sharply
suddenly
significantly
dramatically
slowly
last year
last quarter
rapidly
degree
time
prep.
increase
rise
go up
leap
remain steady
stay at same level
level
peak
decrease
drop
go down
plunge
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
up to
at
at
out
at
by (% / fig.)
to (fig.)
to (fig.)
down

36. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de36
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
verbs adverbs
slightly
moderately
considerably
sharply
suddenly
significantly
dramatically
slowly
last year
last quarter
rapidly
degree
time
prep.
increase
rise
go up
leap
remain steady
stay at same level
level
peak
decrease
drop
go down
plunge
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
up to
at
at
out
at
by (% / fig.)
to (fig.)
to (fig.)
down
Our profit rose considerably to 2
billion $ last year.

37. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de37
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
verbs adverbs
slightly
moderately
considerably
sharply
suddenly
significantly
dramatically
slowly
last year
last quarter
rapidly
degree
time
prep.
increase
rise
go up
leap
remain steady
stay at same level
level
peak
decrease
drop
go down
plunge
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
up to
at
at
out
at
by (% / fig.)
to (fig.)
to (fig.)
down

38. Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de
Kyra S. Huismann Haarenstr. 9 26122 Oldenburg
0441 / 99 84 45 01 s.huismann@gmx.de38
Table Explaining Criteria VocabularyCharts
verbs adverbs
slightly
moderately
considerably
sharply
suddenly
significantly
dramatically
slowly
last year
last quarter
rapidly
degree
time
prep.
increase
rise
go up
leap
remain steady
stay at same level
level
peak
decrease
drop
go down
plunge
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
by (%/fig.) / to (fig)
up to
at
at
out
at
by (% / fig.)
to (fig.)
to (fig.)
down
Personnel costs have gone down
moderately by 4.5 %.