How to Make Graphs & Charts

Creating graphs and charts is a great way to present otherwise dry statistics or data. Using Microsoft Office 2007 is one easy way to create professional-looking graphs for presentations. Creating a graph or chart requires some careful planning.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Office 2007

Instructions

1. 

   In Word 2007, click "Insert," then choose "Chart." This will give you a multitude of options. If you don't have Microsoft Office, several websites let you create graphs and charts for free (see Resources).

2. 

   Choose a bar graph for comparing static data. If you need to compare sales for 5 separate years, a bar graph is a good choice.

3. 

   Choose a line graph if you want to show a trend. For instance, if you want to show how much your sales have fluctuated, compared with your competitors, a line graph is a good choice.

4. 

   Select a pie chart to illustrate percentages.

5. 

   Peruse the other available formats. These formats tend to require more advanced experience or skills to develop into a professional presentation.

6. 

   A pop-up Excel sheet will open when you choose a chart. From there you enter your data by replacing the sample information with your data.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit the National Center for Education Statistics website to create graphs for free (see Resources).

Resources

• National Center for Educational Statistics
• Math Is Fun--Data, Probability and Statistics
• Business Analysis Made Easy