How to Make Line Graphs in Excel

Microsoft's Excel program provides an easy way to put your spreadsheet values into a graph, which can be printed for presentations or pasted into other applications, such as Powerpoint. Line graphs are among the simplest ways to visualize many data sets; here's how to create them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Excel software

1. Enter the values you wish to graph in a single column with no spaces.
2. If you wish to attach a descriptor to each value, enter the descriptor to the left of each number in the column. For example, if you want to see how much weight you've lost over time, list the date on the left and the value on the right for each time you've stepped on a scale.
3. Click and drag to highlight all the information you've just entered, including your descriptors. That should cause a blinking box to surround the data you wish to graph.
4. From the top menu, select "Insert" and then "Chart." Choose "Line graph" from the list of chart types, then select your preferred style from the thumbnails.
5. Follow the prompts to enter a title for your graph and label the X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) axes. Your descriptors should already appear along the X axis. You will then be allowed to choose whether to create your graph within your spreadsheet or on a new sheet.

Tips & Warnings

• To put two series in the same graph (such as your weight and your partner's), simply add another column to the right. Be sure both data sets line up with the descriptors in the left-hand column. Before you insert your graph, make sure all data is highlighted.

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