rules

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Charting Pitfalls, Flexible Guidelines, Exceptions to the Rules

The Process / pitfalls, rules

Don't use this chart type. That's misleading. Make sure to only use this color scheme. That takes too long to interpret. Use this scale to show that thing. Sometimes it seems like there are so many visualization pitfalls, rules, and guidelines — often conflicting depending on who you ask — that it can be hard to keep track.
Bar Chart Baselines Start at Zero

Guides / bar chart, rules

There are visualization rules and there are visualization suggestions. Most are suggestions. The ones that are rules exist because of how our brains process visual information. There's just no getting around it.
Real Chart Rules to Follow

Guides / pitfalls, rules

There are rules—usually for specific chart types meant to be read in a specific way—that you shouldn't break. When they are, everyone loses. This is that small handful.
Graph Design Rule #2: Explain your encodings

Guides / rules

This is part two in a seven-part series on basic rules for graph…
Graph Design Rule #1: Check the data

Guides / rules

Now that we’ve covered the 7 basic rules to graph design, it’s time…
7 Basic Rules for Making Charts and Graphs

Guides / rules

Charts and graphs have found their way into news, presentations, and comics, with…

Bar Chart Baselines Start at Zero