Creating Charts and Visual Summaries

Charts help people understand patterns without reading every row in a dataset.

A chart can help us compare attendance across the four months.

2.7.1 Bar and column charts

These charts are useful for comparing categories. For example, you might compare patient attendance across four facilities.

2.7.2 Line charts

Line charts are useful for showing changes over time. For example, a line chart can display monthly attendance from January to December.

2.7.3 Pie charts

Pie charts can show parts of a whole when the categories represent meaningful portions of the same total. They become difficult to interpret when there are many categories or the differences are small. A bar chart is often easier for comparing many categories.

2.7.4 Creating a simple chart

1. Enter your data into a table.
2. Select the relevant headings and values.
3. Open the Insert tab.
4. Choose an appropriate chart type.
5. Add a meaningful title.
6. Check that the axes and labels are clear.
7. Confirm that the chart represents the data accurately.

Menu names may differ slightly between versions.

Important visualisation rules

• Give every chart a clear title.
• Label axes where appropriate.
• Avoid unnecessary decoration.
• Use consistent units.
• Do not distort axes or scales to exaggerate changes.
• Include the reporting period.
• Explain the source and limitations of the data.