English for describing charts

Learning objective

By the end of this lesson you will be able to describe a chart in English using accurate trend language, clear comparisons and appropriately cautious cause statements.

Start with the overall trend

When you describe a chart, begin with the big picture rather than the first number. A useful opening is "Overall, the data show..." or "The most noticeable trend is..." This helps the listener understand the shape of the information before hearing details. If the chart has several series, identify which one is most important and describe it first.

Trend verbs and prepositions

Choose verbs that match the direction and size of change. Common pairs include increase by, decrease by, rise to, fall to, fluctuate between and remain stable at. Pay attention to prepositions: "increased by 12%" describes the change, while "increased to 12%" describes the final value. "A 12% increase" is also correct but places the emphasis on the change. Practise converting between these forms.

Comparing categories

Comparisons should be precise and fair. Name both items, the measure and the unit: "Online sales were twice as high as store sales in 2024." Avoid vague phrases such as "much bigger" when you have exact figures. If two values are close, say so: "The two groups were broadly similar." If one value is an exception, highlight it separately.

Cause and correlation

Charts show patterns, not necessarily causes. Use cautious language when linking trends to reasons: "This may reflect," "One possible explanation is," or "The increase coincided with." Reserve stronger causal language for cases where the study design supports it. This discipline protects your credibility and matches academic expectations.

Structuring a spoken or written description

A simple structure works well: overview, main trend, comparison, exception, conclusion. For a short answer, you may combine the overview and main trend. For a longer report, add a sentence about limitations, such as missing years or a small sample. End with a sentence that states what the chart does not show.

Common mistakes

• Reading every number aloud.
• Confusing "by" and "to" in trend statements.
• Comparing percentages and raw numbers without conversion.
• Claiming causation from a simple chart.
• Forgetting to mention the time period.

Practical tips

Practise with a chart for one minute, then for thirty seconds, then for fifteen seconds. This trains you to select the most important information. Ask a listener to sketch the trend from your description; if the sketch is wrong, your language was unclear. Keep a personal list of trend phrases and add one new phrase each week.

Summary

Clear chart description begins with the overall trend, uses accurate verbs and prepositions, compares fairly and avoids unsupported causal claims.

Worked example

Consider a chart showing online and in-store sales from 2019 to 2024. A weak description reads: "In 2019, online sales were 10 and store sales were 20. In 2020..." A stronger description begins: "Overall, online sales rose steadily while store sales declined. Online sales increased from 10 units in 2019 to 35 in 2024, an increase of 25 units, whereas store sales fell from 20 to 12 over the same period. The widest gap occurred in 2024." This version gives the trend, a comparison and a specific point.

Practice task

Find a simple chart in a textbook or article. Describe it in three sentences: overall trend, one comparison and one exception or limitation. Then describe it again in one sentence. Ask a listener to sketch the trend from your one-sentence version and compare it with the original.

Further practice

Describe one chart from your field using the four-part structure. Ask a colleague to reproduce the main trend from your description and note any missing detail.

Related lessons

Continue with Explaining a chart without inventing trends, Describing a process in English, and English for academic presentations.