"A chart without a border line has several advantages. It is not limited to a designated area. The irregular white space surrounding it makes it more adaptable to any page size. It may be more readily placed either horizontally or vertically on the page, so long as the reduction in the size of the chart does not destroy legibility of lettering." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"As a rule, bars should not be broken; if they are, a false conclusion can easily be drawn from the graph. If, however, the total length of any one bar is not essential to the whole picture, it may be broken near the end, so long as the numeral is inserted in the broken portion. This numeral should always appear in such cases, whether or not a scale is used." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"Avoid using black to silhouette a trend, as it causes an optical illusion (unless, of course, it is desired to create an illusion). [...] The same illusion is created when deep colors are used on original or reproduced charts." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"Determine the significant message in the data. The message is the objective and should not be lost sight of at any stage from the initial planning to the final result. [...] If, on the other hand, the message is more clearly expressed as a statement, a graph should never used. Too often presentations are made that add confusion to the meaning, and a chart is made just for the sake of making a chart." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"Graphic presentation is a functional form of art as much as modern painting or architectural design. The painter studies his subject to determine what colors and style and design will best express his ideas. The same kind of imagination is exercised by the graphic artist and analyst. In addition, the graphic analyst has some of the same problems as the architect. The modern architect studies the family, its hobbies, interests, ambitions, and financial status, among other things, before he designs the new home. The graphic analyst should make just as thorough a study of the characteristics of the data and file uses for which it is intended before he designs his project. In the same way that the architect must know his materials and how they can best be used both in traditional ways and in new ways of his own devising, so must the graphic analyst be familiar with materials and techniques." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"In line charts with an arithmetic scale, it is essential to set the base line at zero in order that the correct perspective of the general movement may not be lost. Breaking or leaving off part of the scale leads to misinterpretation, because the trend then shows a disproportionate degree of variation in movement." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"In the basic statistical chart, the size of the lettering should be proportional to its importance on the chart. [...] 1. The main title should convey the subject of the graph at a glance. 2, The subtitle supports the main title and carries essential detail, such as date, index base, or limits of coverage. Do not depend on the text of the article or report to give basic information about your chart. The chart itself should include the facts." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"Recognize effective results. Does the type of chart selected give a comprehensive picture of the situation? Does the size of chart and visual aid used satisfy all audience requirements? Do materials meet all repro- duction problems? Is the layout well balanced and style of lettering uniform? Does the chart as a whole accurately present the facts? Is the projected idea an effective visual tool?" (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"The grid with the vertical ruling carrying the logarithmic scale and the horizontal ruling carrying the arithmetic scale denoting time is the most common. The reverse may be used, and the horizontal ruling may carry the log scale. Charts of this type are frequently referred to as 'semilog charts'. [...] The full or double log scale (with the log grid carried on both horizontal and vertical rulings) is used mostly for statistical study and economic analysis and is not a good tool for popular presentation of data." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"The logarithmic chart, while very effective when properly used and understood by the reader, is not for indiscriminate popular presentation. The purpose of this type of chart is to show the rate of change within a trend and not the arithmetic amount of change." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
"The pie or sector chart makes a comparison of various components with each other and with the whole. However, this type should be used sparingly, especially when there are many segments. It is not only difficult to compare area segments, but most difficult to label them properly. When there are many divisions of the data, a bar chart would give greater clarity." (Mary E Spear, "Charting Statistics", 1952)
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