Charts and graphs are everywhere—news, social media, work presentations. But here's the problem: the same data can look completely different depending on how it's presented.
Learning to read charts properly is like having X-ray vision for data manipulation.
Engagement Message
Think of a chart you saw that felt misleading—what made you suspicious?
Your first step with any chart: check the axes. The horizontal (x) and vertical (y) lines show what's being measured and the scale used.
Many misleading charts use weird scales or start at unusual numbers to exaggerate differences.
Engagement Message
What would happen if a chart showing "huge growth" actually started at 98% instead of 0%?
Scale tricks are everywhere. A chart might show dramatic peaks and valleys, but if you check the scale, the actual difference is tiny.
Always look at the numbers on the axes, not just the visual shape of the line or bars.
Engagement Message
Which would look more dramatic: 10% to 12% growth on a 0-100% scale or 10-12% scale?
Legends and labels tell you what each color, line, or bar represents. Without them, you're guessing what the chart actually shows.
Missing or unclear labels are red flags. Good charts explain themselves clearly.
Engagement Message
What would you think of a chart comparing three products but no legend showing which is which?
Truncated axes are a classic trick. Instead of starting at zero, the chart starts at a higher number to make small differences look massive.
A temperature chart showing 71°F to 73°F might look like a heat wave if it doesn't show the full scale.
Engagement Message
Why might someone want to make a 2-degree temperature change look dramatic?
