List of Tables vii
List of Figures ix
Introduction xiii
Preface xvii
Acknowledgements xix
1 Understanding number 1
1.1 Thousands separator 2
1.2 Decimal separator 3
1.3 Level of detail in comparisons 4
1.4 Justification of data 5
1.5 Basic rounding 7
1.6 Effective rounding 9
Notes 16
2 Tables 17
2.1 Position of totals in tables 17
2.2 What is a table? 19
2.3 Reference tables 19
2.4 Summary tables 22
2.5 How tables are read 24
2.6 Layout of data in tables 25
2.7 Capital letters for table titles and headings in tables 29
2.8 Use of bold typeface 30
2.9 Use of gridlines and other lines in tables 30
Notes 31
3 Charts (bar charts, histograms, pie charts, graphs) 33
3.1 How the user interprets charts 33
3.2 Written aims for charts 35
3.3 Scale definition and display 37
3.4 Difference between bar charts and histograms 49
3.5 Pie chart principles 51
3.6 Issues with pie charts 55
3.7 Graph principles 63
3.8 Issues with graphs 64
3.9 Pictogram principles 79
3.10 Comparative charts: Multiple pies, multiple bar charts, double scale graphs 82
3.11 Graphics 88
3.12 Three-dimensional charts 90
Notes 92
4 Numbers in text 93
4.1 Numbers written as text 94
4.1.1 Correct numbers 94
4.1.2 Clear numbers 94
4.1.3 Concise numbers 95
4.1.4 Consistent numbers 96
4.2 Ordering of data 97
4.3 Technical terms 98
4.4 Plain language 100
4.5 Emotive language 102
4.6 Key messages 103
Notes 105
5 Data presentation on the Internet 107
5.1 The early years 110
5.2 Statistics on CD-ROMs 113
5.3 Data on the Internet 116
5.4 Charts on the Internet 120
5.5 Text on the Internet 128
Notes 130