Have you ever created a bar chart, only to find that people struggle to understand it? You might be making one of these common mistakes. At Datasketch, we’ll show you what they are and how to avoid them.
1. Not Ordering the Bars Properly
One of the most frequent mistakes is presenting bars in a random or alphabetical order. This makes it harder to read and confuses users, as they struggle to compare values easily.
How to avoid it: Organize bars from highest to lowest, lowest to highest, or in another logical order that enhances comprehension.
2. Not Labeling Correctly
A lack of axis labels or numeric values directly on the bars is a common issue. Without this information, readers can’t interpret the chart accurately and may have to guess the values.
How to avoid it: Always include clear axis labels, descriptive titles, and, if possible, numeric values on the bars to facilitate reading.
3. Manipulating the Y-Axis
A frequent mistake is adjusting the vertical axis (Y) so it doesn’t start at zero, distorting the perception of differences between bars. This exaggerates variations between values that may not actually be significant.
How to avoid it: Make sure the Y-axis always starts at zero. This ensures that the proportions between bars accurately reflect the data. Otherwise, the chart misrepresents the information.
4. Overloading the Chart with Colors
Applying too many colors—such as using a different one for each category without a clear reason—can distract and confuse the reader.
How to avoid it: Limit color use. Stick to a single palette for all bars, or use different shades only when necessary to highlight specific information, such as a key category.
5. Using Too Many Categories
Including too many bars in a chart can overload the visualization and make it confusing. A crowded chart becomes difficult to read and interpret.
How to avoid it: Reduce categories by selecting only the most relevant ones or grouping less significant ones under an “Others” category (if the data allows it). If many categories are essential, consider an alternative visualization, such as a line chart or table.
Final Thoughts
Designing a good bar chart isn’t just about choosing this type of visualization—it’s about paying attention to details that make your message clear and effective. Avoiding these mistakes will help you communicate your data in a professional and understandable way.
At Datasketch, you’ll find more guides and tips on taking your data visualizations to the next level. Are you interested in exploring this and other types of charts? Create a Datasketch account and try out our data visualization tools.
