Describing Line Graphs

Describing Line Graphs (1)

Look at the following simple line graph: 

 

It shows the population of Denmark from 1996 to 2007. You can see that in 1996 the population was 5.25 million and that by the year 2007 it had grown to 5.45 million.

When you write about a line chart it is important to look first at the Chart Title. This tells you what information the graph displays and you can use this information in your description.

Then look at the X and Y axes. The titles of these axes sometimes give you information you can use in your description. It is important also to look at the UNITS. On the Y-axis in this graph the units are millions. The population of Denmark in 1996 was not 5.25, but 5.25 million people.

Line graphs describe change. When describing these graphs you must answer the question, "What changed?". In this case we can see that the population of Denmark increased from 1996 to 2007.

We can also ask the question, "How did the population change?". Because the line is fairly smooth, we can say that the population increased steadily.

Lastly, we can ask the question, "How much?". In this case, "How big was the change in population?" The population in 1996 was 5.25 million and in 2007 it was 2.45 million. So there was an increase of 0.2 million or 200,000 people. 

To write a short description of this graph ask yourself (and answer!) the following questions:

1. What exactly does the graph show? (Use the chart title to help you answer this question)
2. What are the axes and what are the units?
3. What changed?
4. How much did it change?

Answering these questions will help you to write a short description of this simple graph.

Here is an example:

This graph shows population change in Denmark from 1996 to 2007. Denmark's population grew steadily from 5.25 million in 1996 to 5.45 million in 2007, an increase of 200,000 people.

Vocabulary

Other words you can use instead of increased or grew are rose and went up.

Adverbs you can use with these words are:

	How?	How much?
increased	dramatically, significantly, considerably, rapidly, substantially, steadily, sharply, markedly, greatly, slightly, exponentially, proportionally, strongly	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y, tenfold, fourfold ...
grew	rapidly, steadily, slowly, gradually, dramatically, substantially, enormously, quickly	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y
rose	sharply, slowly, steadily, slightly, rapidly, quickly, dramatically, significantly, substantially, gently, fractionally, considerably, gradually	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y
went up	The above adverbs are not usually used with "went up".	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y

Describing Line Graphs (2)

Look at the following simple line graph: 

It shows the population of Hungary from 1996 to 2007. You can see that in 1996 the population was more than 10.3 million and that by the year 2007 it had fallen to just over 10.05 million.

What change is shown by this graph? In this case we can see that the population of Hungary decreased from 1996 to 2007.

Also in this graph the line is fairly smooth, so we can say that the population decreased steadily.

How big was the change in population? The population in 1996 was 10.32 million and in 2007 it was 10.07 million. So there was a decrease of 0.25 million or 250,000 people. 

To write a short description of this graph ask yourself (and answer!) the following questions:

1. What exactly does the graph show? (Use the chart title to help you answer this question)
2. What are the axes and what are the units?
3. What changed?
4. How much did it change?

Answering these questions will help you to write a short description of this simple graph.

Here is an example:

This graph shows population change in Hungary from 1996 to 2007. Hungary's population fell steadily from 10.32 million in 1996 to 10.07 million in 2007, a decrease of 250,000 people.

Vocabulary

Other words you can use instead of fell or decreased are declined, dropped and went down .

Adverbs you can use with these words are:

	How?	How much?
fell	sharply, heavily, slightly, steadily, dramatically, significantly, considerably, quickly, rapidly, steeply, gradually, gently, substantially, precipitately, fractionally, drastically, marginally, markedly, progressively, continuously	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y, tenfold, fourfold ...
decreased	significantly, markedly, slightly, steadily, rapidly, considerably, continuously, dramatically,	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y, tenfold, fourfold ...
declined	sharply, rapidly, dramatically, steadily, slightly, markedly, significantly, considerably, steeply, drastically, continuously, substantially, quickly	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y
dropped	dramatically, sharply, slightly, considerably, steadily, significantly, rapidly, drastically, alarmingly, noticeably, markedly, radically, abruptly, substantially, gradually, gently, slowly	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y
went down	The above adverbs are not usually used with "went down ".

Describing Line Graphs (3) - Using Adverbs

The following graphs illustrate the use of some adverbs: 

 

• The population rose slowly. (small increase in the population over the period)
• The population rose steadily. (little or no variation in the rate of growth)
• The population rose slightly. (small increase in the population over the period)
• The population rose gently. (small increase in the population over the period)
• The population rose gradually. (small increase in the population over the period)

From 1996 to 1998, the population increased dramatically. From 1996 to 1998, the population increased significantly.

Checklist for Writing about Charts, Graphs and Tables

Checklist for Writing about Charts, Graphs and Tables

ASK YOURSELF (AND ANSWER!) THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What exactly does the chart/graph/table show? 

Use the title, and possibly the axes, to answer this question.

For example: 

This graph shows the price of computer memory from 1990 to 2007.

This graph illustrates the price of computer memory from 1990 to 2007.

These graphs illustrate the price of computer memory from 1990 to 2007.

2. What are the axes and what are the units (for graphs and charts)?

You don't have to include this information in your description but asking yourself the question helps you to avoid errors.

For example: 

This X axis shows time in years and the Y axis show price per kilobyte of memory in dollars.

3. Are there any obvious trends?

If there is an obvious trend, it is important to mention this.

For example: 

You can see from this graph that the price of computer memory fell steadily over the period in question.

4. Is there any significant information?

Look for obvious differences such as the largest, the smallest .

For example: 

Sweden had the largest proportion of people using the Internet in 1999.

5. Are there any obvious exceptions to general trends?

You won't normally see a graph with a straight line; most will fluctuate in some way or another. Once you have identified a trend, point out the exceptions.

For example: 

Although the number of cinema goers increased from 1990 to 1998, there were slight falls in 1992 and 1995.

6. What conclusions can you draw from the information presented in the graphs / tables / charts?

Be careful not to draw conclusions which are not supported by the information in the graphs / charts / tables.

For example: 

It is clear from the information presented in these charts that Internet use is increasing worldwide and will probably continue to do so as the price of Internet access falls.

Other language you could use:

The data suggest / show that ...

The most significant fact is that ...

In spite of this increase / decrease, .....

This could well be due to ...

This is supported by the fact that ...

An important point to note is that ...

It is quite clear form this data that ...

The chart indicates that ...