A chart is just one of the available tools to communicate and help you and your audience to understand the data; sometimes using a chart is just plain wrong: if variation seems random or non-existent, what's the point of displaying the data graphically (yes, I know, sometimes that's what you want to show)? So, take a look at the available tools and ask yourself: Do I really need a chart?
About the author
Jorge Camões
Lives in Lisbon, Portugal. Author, consultant and trainer on data analysis and visualization.
Updated on Jun 3, 2026