 |
As discussed in Section 1I, integrating graphics and text helps readers understand your point. Successful integration
begins with assigning a label, number, and title to your graphics, differentiating them from one another. For
instance, a table and a pie chart in a document might be identified as "Table 1. Means and Standard Deviations
for Fillmore Air Components This Year to Date" and "Figure 1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ventura County by
Major Source, 2005." Place identifying information above tables and below figures.
Help readers understand a graphic quickly by labeling major elements. For tables, label rows and columns so readers
can interpret the data in the cells of the table. For graphs, label the vertical (y) and horizontal (x) axes as well
as lines. For pie charts, label each slice. For all graphics, include units of measurement for every variable
displayed. For instance, in a table showing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for sulfur dioxide over a
24-hour period, the number "365" in a cell of the table is not useful to readers unless the table indicates the
unit of measurement.
Every graphic should be clearly labeled. The first line graph showing the average snow depths for three ski resorts lacks informative labels. The title is uninformative, making readers guess whether snow depth is measured in centimeters or inches. In addition, the graphic does not indicate when the measurements were taken. The second line graph corrects these flaws. No legend is needed because the lines are labeled in the graph.
Ineffective
Figure 1. Snow Depths
|
Revised
Figure 1. Average Snow Depths for Three Ski Resorts, 2004–2005 Ski Season
|
|
