How to describe changes in numbers and graphs

Bar graph

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Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

Series 1

Series 2

Series 3

Line graph

Pie chart

Verbs of change go up increase rise soar rocket jump double triple gain

go down decrease decline fall plummet drop Halve (To lessen or

reduce by half)

Example

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1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

SalesSales started the year at RM20m in the first quarter and increased slightly in the second quarter to RM27m. However, in the third quarter of the year, sales rocketed. In fact they more than tripled to RM90m. However, in the last quarter of the year sales returned to the same level as the beginning of the year by falling back to RM20.

High points and low points

0102030405060708090

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1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

SalesSales bottomed out at RM22m in the second quarter. Then, after rocketing over the next couple of months, they peaked at RM90m.

Stability

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J F M A M J J A S O N DSales

Sales fluctuated in the first five months of the year. They levelled off in the summer months. In August, sales fell sharply but then recovered in October.

Hope you found it useful