Vertical vs. Horizontal Bars
Does it matter if the bars go up or sideways? While the data remains the same, the presentation can make it more intuitive.
- Vertical Bars (Column Graphs): Best for heights or amounts measured upwards from the ground (e.g., height of mountains, number of students).
- Horizontal Bars: Best for lengths parallel to the ground or distances (e.g., length of rivers, running distances).
Example: Tallest Mountains
Since mountains grow upwards, a vertical bar graph is visually suggestive of the subject matter.
Example: Longest Rivers
Rivers flow across the land. A horizontal bar graph mimics the flow of a river better than a vertical column.
Infographics
When graphs are beautified with artistic imagery, they are called Infographics. Instead of plain rectangular bars, an artist might use:
- Triangles to represent mountains.
- Pencils to represent school supplies.
Warning
Caution: Fancy graphics can sometimes be misleading! If you use a triangle to represent a mountain, a taller triangle is also wider at the base. This might make the data look much larger than it actually is. Always check the scale and the axis values, not just the size of the picture.