Minimize chart or graph junk. “Chart junk” (a close cousin to “word junk”) happens when you use every function, every graph, and every feature a computer program has to make your charts busy, full, and uninformative. With graphs, more is definitely less. Plan out your chart before you start creating the final copy. Use graph paper even if you will be using a computer program to generate the graph. Actually, why not just use your computer to generate and print out graph paper (try www.printfreegraphpaper.com). Say what you mean and mean what you say—no more and no less. There’s nothing worse
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