1 Eric Rasmusen, erasmuse@indiana.edu Eric Rasmusen, erasmuse@indiana.edu 7 November 2006 Graphs and Tables.

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Eric Rasmusen, Eric Rasmusen, erasmuse@indiana.eduerasmuse@indiana.edu

7 November 20067 November 2006

Graphs and TablesGraphs and Tables

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Principles of Graphs Principles of Graphs 1. Keep the data-to-ink ratio high. 1. Keep the data-to-ink ratio high. 2. Erase data-ink for useless data. 2. Erase data-ink for useless data. 3. Erase non-data ink. 3. Erase non-data ink. 4. Don't use Moire patterns. 4. Don't use Moire patterns. 5. Don't use boxes and grids. 5. Don't use boxes and grids. 6. Don't use cute pictures that obscure what you are saying. 6. Don't use cute pictures that obscure what you are saying. 7. Consider labelling individual data points of special 7. Consider labelling individual data points of special

interest. interest. 8. Write text horizontally, not vertically. 8. Write text horizontally, not vertically. 9. Make the figure self-contained. Don't require the reader 9. Make the figure self-contained. Don't require the reader

to refer to the text or a previous table. Include the source to refer to the text or a previous table. Include the source and the units of measurement. and the units of measurement.

10. Number and title every figure. 10. Number and title every figure.

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Principles of Tables Principles of Tables 1. Keep the data-to-ink ratio high. 1. Keep the data-to-ink ratio high.

2. Leave out dividing lines and boxes unless you have a 2. Leave out dividing lines and boxes unless you have a good reason for them.good reason for them.

3. Leave off repetitive, useless numbers. 3. Leave off repetitive, useless numbers.

4. Don't use just capital letters. 4. Don't use just capital letters.

5. Circle or otherwise mark important numbers, in 5. Circle or otherwise mark important numbers, in particular, ones you mention in the text or talk. particular, ones you mention in the text or talk.

6. Make the table self-contained. Don't require the 6. Make the table self-contained. Don't require the reader to refer to the text or a previous table. Include reader to refer to the text or a previous table. Include the source and the units of measurement. the source and the units of measurement.

7. Number and title every table. 7. Number and title every table.

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•Some Good Graphics Some Good Graphics FollowFollow

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77Uniform Crime Reports: Crime in the United States, Section IV

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http://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PapersLinks/RI%20Final%20Guatemalai.pdfhttp://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PapersLinks/RI%20Final%20Guatemalai.pdf

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http://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PapersLinks/RI%20Final%20Guatemalai.pdfhttp://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PapersLinks/RI%20Final%20Guatemalai.pdf

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http://www.bcg.com/publications/files/http://www.bcg.com/publications/files/Balancing_Act_Implementing_an_Integrated_Strategy_for_Value_Creation_Nov05.pdfBalancing_Act_Implementing_an_Integrated_Strategy_for_Value_Creation_Nov05.pdf

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http://www.bcg.com/publications/files/http://www.bcg.com/publications/files/Balancing_Act_Implementing_an_Integrated_Strategy_for_Value_Creation_Nov05.pdfBalancing_Act_Implementing_an_Integrated_Strategy_for_Value_Creation_Nov05.pdf

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http://www.bcg.com/publications/files/http://www.bcg.com/publications/files/Balancing_Act_Implementing_an_Integrated_Strategy_for_Value_Creation_Nov05.pdfBalancing_Act_Implementing_an_Integrated_Strategy_for_Value_Creation_Nov05.pdf

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Edward TufteEdward Tufte

The Visual Display of Quantitative The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Information (1983)(pictures of numbers)(1983)(pictures of numbers)

Envisioning Information Envisioning Information (1990) (pictures of (1990) (pictures of nouns)nouns)

Visual Explanations Visual Explanations (1997) (pictures of (1997) (pictures of verbs). verbs).

1414http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/minard

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http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0000SI&topichttp://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0000SI&topic_id=1&topic=Ask%20E%2eT%2e_id=1&topic=Ask%20E%2eT%2e

New York Times,New York Times, March 20, 2003, p. D1 March 20, 2003, p. D1

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http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pdf/nypdemergency.pdfhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pdf/nypdemergency.pdf

1818http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pdf/nypdemergency.pdfhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/pdf/nypdemergency.pdf

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