Jorge Camoes’ Charts

This is the time for scatter plots in the 10 x 10 charting tips series:

1. A scatter plot is square by definition (I forget that sometimes…);
2. In some cases, it makes more sense to use a scatter plot than two column charts: for example, instead of having a column chart to display product market share and another chart to display product growth, consider merging both into a scatter plot (market share on the x axis and growth on the y axis);
3. If you are plotting several data series, color code them instead of using different markers…
4. … but consider using several charts;
5. In scatter plots, use empty circles as markers to let the reader see the overlapping points;
6. Use a scatter plot matrix to analyze pairwise relationships between series;
7. Use a scatter plot as an alternative to horizontal bar charts, like in a population pyramid;
8. If needed, use a scatter plot instead of a line chart if you have an unevenly-spaced time series;
9. You can use a scatter plot to create a basic map;
10. An outline can ruin your scatter plot. If possible, remove it and explain it;

As you can see, you can use a scatter plot in Excel to create many other charts. Just use your imagination and share it in the comments.

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