How to Make a Line Graph in Word PDF

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Summary

How to create a line graph for research paper...

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How to Make a Line Graph in Word *These instruction are for Word 2013. If you have a different version you can still make the graph but buttons and options may be located in a slightly different place. If you have issues making the graph please email me and we can find a time for you to come by my office and I can help walk you through it.

1. In word select the “Insert” Tab at the top and select “Chart”. This will open up the following box.

2. Within the dialog box select a “Line” graph on the left hand side and then select “Line with Markers” along the top.

3. Once you select “Ok” this will open up a window in Microsoft Excel where you will need to enter your data. Word gives you a template table and you will need to type in the real data but before you enter your data read steps 4 and 5.

4. NOTE: When entering your data into the excel table it will be entered transposed from your lab manual. See below for how your data looks in your lab manual.

5. When you enter it into excel it should look like the figure below. NOTE: the columns and rows are opposite of your lab manual. You MUST enter the data as shown below or your graph will not be correct.

6. Once the data is entered you can hit the “X” at the top right of the excel screen and you should now have a completed graph in your word document.

Chart Title 8 6

Axis Title

4 2 0 0

8

16

24

32

-2 -4 -6

Axis Title Bag 1

Bag 2

Bag 3

Bag 4

40

7. You will need to edit the chart title by clicking the words “Chart Title” and changing it to whatever you want your title to be.

8. You will need to add axis labels. To do so make you sure you click on the graph and that will open the chart tools at the top of the page. Select the “Design” tab within chart tools.

9. Then click “Add Chart Element” and you can select “Axis Titles” which will allow you to enter an X (or “primary horizontal”) axis. You can then repeat steps 8 and 9 to add a Y axis (or “primary vertical”) axis.

10. Just like you changed the chart title in step 7 you should also change the axis titles, making sure to include units!

11. If you plan to print this graph in black and white you will need to change the markings on your graph so you can distinguish between the lines. In order to do so you will need to RIGHT click directly on one of the lines on your graph. This will open up a pop up menu and you will select “Format Data Series”

12. In that pop up menu that opened to the right select the paint can icon and then “Marker” and then right below “Marker” select the arrow next to “MARKER OPTIONS”

13. Once you select the arrow next to “marker options” the following options will appear. Select the dot next to “Built-In” and then you can change the shape of each of your dots by clicking the drop down next to “Type”. Change the shape of each line to something different so that even without color I will be able to tell which line is which.

14. Once you are sure all of the lines are different shapes and you have edited your axis you should be done!...