Chart Reading Checklist

Use

Use this every time a chart seems to tell an obvious story.

Checklist

• What is the chart type?
• What is on each axis?
• Does the axis start or scale change the impression?
• What is the sample size?
• Are denominators shown?
• Are groups comparable?
• Is uncertainty shown?
• What does the chart show?
• What does the chart not prove?

Careful Sentence

The chart shows ..., but it does not prove ...