CHART/GRAPH FORMATTING

A chart is a graphical representation for data visualization, in which “the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart.  A chart can represent tabular numeric data, functions or some kinds of quality structure and provides different information.

You can add a chart to your Word document in one of two ways:

1. Insert a chart by embedding it into your word document so that objects become part of the Word file and are no longer part of the source file. This is useful when you don’t want the information to reflect changes in the source file or when you don’t want the document recipients to be concerned with updating the linked information. This is can be achieved by directly inserting Chart from the Insert option on the Menu Bar. 
2. Paste an Excel chart into your Word document that is linked to data in an office Excel worksheet. When a chart is thus linked, information can be updated if the external excel is modified. This is useful when you want to include information that is maintained independently and would need to keep that information up-to-date in a Word Document.

The main differences between embedded charts and linked charts are where the data is stored and how you update the data after you place it in the Word document.

Typically, the data in a chart is represented graphically since humans can infer meaning from pictures more quickly than from text. Thus, the text is generally used only to annotate the data. Below are some of the features of a Chart or graph;

1. Title: Usually appears above the main graphic and provides a succinct description of what the data in the graph refers to.
2. Axes: Both the x-axis and y-axis are scaled, donated by periodic graduations and usually accompanied by numerical or categorical indications. Each axis will typically have a label displayed outside or beside it, briefly describing the dimension represented. If the scale is numerical, the label will often be suffixed with unit of that scale in parentheses e.g (m).
3. Grid lines: aid in the visual alignment of data. The grid can be enhanced by visually emphasizing the lines at regular or significant graduations. The emphasized lines are then called major gridlines, and the remainder is minor grid lines.
4. Labels: describes the datum associated with the indicated position in the chart. The data may appear as dots or shapes, connected or unconnected, and any combination of colors and patterns.
5. Legend/key: Contains a list of variables appearing in the chart and an example of their appearance that ease identification of variables.