Describing Graphs in Scientific English

Scientific Communication in English

Goal and rule

  • Goal: describe what you see on a graph.
  • Rule: description ≠ interpretation.
  • If you say because / therefore / so, you are interpreting.
Basics

1. Type of graph

  • This graph shows ...
  • This figure represents ...
  • It is a line graph / bar chart / scatter plot.
Step 1

2. Axes

  • On the x-axis, we have ...
  • On the y-axis, we have ...
  • The x-axis represents ...
  • The y-axis corresponds to ...
Step 2

3. Trend

  • Increase: increase, go up, rise, grow
  • Decrease: decrease, go down, drop, fall
  • Stable: remain constant, stay stable, does not change
Step 3

4. Shape of the curve

  • linear / non-linear
  • exponential
  • plateau
  • peak
  • minimum / maximum
Step 4

5. Compare values

  • higher than / lower than
  • similar to
  • different from
Step 5

6. Overall trend and location

  • Overall, the trend is increasing / decreasing / stable.
  • at low / high values of ...
  • around ...
  • between ... and ...
Step 6

7. Safe sentences (description only)

  • We observe that ...
  • The graph shows that ...
  • When X increases, Y decreases.
  • The curve reaches a maximum at ...
  • Overall, the trend is stable.
Step 7

8. Avoid interpretation

  • Avoid: because, therefore, so, this means
  • Avoid: good / bad / efficient / better
  • First describe, then interpret, then judge.
Step 8

Heat transfer efficiency vs. Temperature

Heat transfer efficiency vs. Temperature Temperature (°C) Heat transfer efficiency (%)
Example 1

Pressure vs. Flow rate

Pressure vs. Flow rate Flow rate (m³/h) Pressure (kPa)
Example 2

Conversion vs. Residence time

Conversion vs. Residence time Residence time (s) Conversion (%) Catalyst A Catalyst B
Example 3

Control response vs. Time

Control response vs. Time Time (s) Output (a.u.)
Example 4

Yield vs. Temperature (mixed shapes)

Yield vs. Temperature (mixed shapes) Temperature (°C) Yield (%)
Example 5