List of versatile words and phrases to effectively describe tables and graphs

Here’s a list of versatile words and phrases to effectively describe tables and graphs, categorized for clarity:

1. Describing Trends and Changes:

• Increase/Decrease:
  • Rise, climb, surge, escalate, ascend, soar, grow, expand, augment.
  • Fall, decline, drop, descend, plunge, diminish, reduce, contract, dwindle.
• Fluctuations:
  • Vary, oscillate, fluctuate, waver, alternate, undulate.
• Stability:
  • Remain constant, stabilize, plateau, level off, maintain, persist.
• Rate of Change:
  • Rapidly, sharply, significantly, considerably, moderately, gradually, slightly, steadily.

2. Describing Comparisons:

• Higher/Lower:
  • Exceed, surpass, outstrip, outweigh, predominate, dwarf.
  • Fall below, trail behind, lag, pale in comparison.
• Similarities/Differences:
  • Resemble, correlate, align, correspond, mirror.
  • Differ, diverge, contrast, vary, deviate, disparate.
• Extremes:
  • Peak, reach a maximum, hit a high, culminate.
  • Bottom out, reach a minimum, hit a low, plummet.
• Proportions:
  • Percentage, proportion, ratio, fraction, segment, share.

3. Describing Data Points:

• Values:
  • Figures, statistics, data, numbers, amounts, quantities, measurements.
• Categories:
  • Groups, segments, classifications, divisions, types, categories.
• Relationships:
  • Correlation, association, relation, connection, interdependence.

4. Describing Overall Patterns:

• General Trends:
  • Overall, in general, on the whole, broadly, by and large.
• Significant Features:
  • Notably, significantly, remarkably, prominently, considerably.
• Key Aspects:
  • Highlights, demonstrates, illustrates, indicates, reveals, portrays.

5. Describing the Degree of Change/Difference:

• Large:
  • Substantial, considerable, significant, marked, pronounced, dramatic, steep.
• Small:
  • Marginal, slight, minimal, negligible, modest, subtle.

Example Phrases:

• “There was a significant surge in sales…”
• “The figures varied considerably over the period…”
• “The percentage of respondents remained relatively constant…”
• “Sales in Asia outstripped those in Europe…”
• “The graph illustrates a gradual decline…”
• “The correlation between X and Y is notable…”

By using this varied vocabulary, you can create more engaging and precise descriptions of tables and graphs.