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Language For Graphs and Charts

The document provides guidance on summarizing information from graphs and charts, including: - Recommending introductory expressions to use when describing what a graph or table shows such as "The graph shows..." or "It is clear from the graph..." - Suggesting ways to specify time periods using expressions like "from...to", "between...and", or "during..." - Warning against using personal pronouns and recommending impersonal constructions, and advising to avoid phrases like "according to the graph."

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carol
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43 views

Language For Graphs and Charts

The document provides guidance on summarizing information from graphs and charts, including: - Recommending introductory expressions to use when describing what a graph or table shows such as "The graph shows..." or "It is clear from the graph..." - Suggesting ways to specify time periods using expressions like "from...to", "between...and", or "during..." - Warning against using personal pronouns and recommending impersonal constructions, and advising to avoid phrases like "according to the graph."

Uploaded by

carol
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Language for graphs and charts

The following………

Chart compares affluence in the USA during the year


Slide defines amount of… worldwide between 1990 and
Pie chart delineates average throughout the 1998
Bar graph demonstrates changes country along the 1920s
Line Graph describes decrease
Table displays difference
Report establishes the fluctuation
examines growth
illustrates increase
narrates
level
outlines
number of…
represents
quantity of…
reveals
range
shows
rate
suggests
trend

Tips
Useful introductory expressions: 
The graph shows / indicates / depicts / illustrates
From the graph it is clear
It can be seen from the graph
As can be seen from the graph,
As is shown / illustrated by the graph,
Example: The graph shows the percentage of children using supplements in a place over
a year.
Useful time expressions: 
over the next... / for the following... (for the following two months... over the next six
months...)
from ... to / between ... and (from June to August... between June and August...)
during (during the first three months...)

Warning!
Per cent is the word form of the symbol %. We can write 10% or 10 per
cent. Percentage is the noun form: The percentage of children using supplements.
NOT The percent of children...
Note!
You can use a combination of adjective + noun, or verb + adverb, to avoid repeating the
same phrase.
Example: There was a sharp decrease in the numbers. The numbers decreased sharply.

Introductory Expression

 The graph/table shows/indicates/illustrates/reveals/represents...


 It is clear from the graph/table...
 It can be seen from the graph/table...
 As the graph/table shows,...
 As can be seen from the graph/table,...
 As is shown by the graph/table,...
 As is illustrated by the graph/table,...
 From the graph/table it is clear....

It is always best to avoid using personal pronouns. Instead of saying We can see from the
graph..., it is better to use the passive or impersonal constructions.

Most of the above expressions can be followed by a clause starting with that.

Several of the above expressions can be followed by a noun or noun phrase.

Several of the above expressions must be followed by a main clause.


Warnings

1. Avoid using the phrase: according to the graph. This is because the


phrase according to generally means that the information comes
from another person or source, and not from our own knowledge. (For
example, According to Handbook, the Archaic Period started around 7000 BCE
and ended around 1200 BCE.)
In the case of a graph or table that is shown, the information is there right in front of
you, the writer, and also the reader, and so you know it does not come from
another source.
2. The expressions as can be seen from the graph or as is shown/illustrated by the
table do NOT contain the dummy subject it. Avoid these expressions if you think
you are going to forget this unusual grammar.
3. Avoid using the word presents. It requires a sophisticated summarizing noun to
follow. (For example: The graph presents an overview of the population growth of
Canada between 1867 and 2007.)
Prepared by: Ed Salinas

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