Diagrams are visual ways of presenting data concisely . They are often also called figures . In an academic article they are usually labelled Fig. (Figure) 1, Fig. 2, etc .

• 🔹 A pie chart is a circle divided into segments from the middle to show how the total is divided up . A key or legend shows what each segment represents .
• 🔹 A bar chart is a diagram in which different amounts are represented by thin vertical or horizontal bars which have the same width but vary in height or length .
• 🔹 A histogram is a kind of bar chart but the bar width also varies to indicate different values .
• 🔹 A table is a grid with columns and rows of numbers .
• 🔹 A cross-section is something, or a model of something, cut across the middle so that you can see the inside . A label gives the name of each part of the cross-section . Cross-section can also be used to mean a small group that is representative of all the different types within the total group (e.g. the survey looked at a cross-section of society) .
• 🔹 A flowchart is a diagram which indicates the stages of a process .

Describing Trends (Verbs & Nouns)

Graphs show how numbers increase or decrease . The nouns increase and decrease have the stress on the first syllable, but the verbs have the stress on the second syllable . Numbers can also be said to rise or grow and fall, drop or decline .

Other verbs used about growth include:

• double: grow to twice the size (opposite = halve) .
• soar: dramatic movement upwards (opposite = plummet) .
• multiply: grow rapidly to a very large number .
• appreciate: used about the value of something, e.g. a painting or car (opposite = depreciate) .
• exceed: go over, expresses a number in relation to another number (opposite = fall below) .