PURPOSE Charts help people understand trends, comparisons, and patterns quickly. BEFORE CREATING A CHART Clean the data, use clear headers, and select the correct range. CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHART Use bar charts for comparisons, line charts for trends over time, and pie charts only for simple parts of a whole. MAKE IT READABLE Add a clear title, label axes, avoid clutter, and keep formatting simple. CHECK Make sure the chart tells the truth and does not exaggerate the data.