Here are some general rules that help make graphs more legible:
- Labeling:
- Axes should always be labeled or a legend should be provided if there is not enough space to display the value labels along the axes.
- A chart title should always be provided especially if there is not enough context to easily infer what the chart represents.
- Type fonts and sizes should be easily legible.
- Sort order:
- If the values being counted can be ordered in an obvious manner—for example, by a daily, monthly, or yearly frequency—then the order on the chart axis should reflect this.
- If the values do not have any obvious logical order—for example, if we were looking at the most-used online payment methods—then the chart will ...