Chart Description in English

Describing charts in English

Types of charts

Charts	English
	table
	pie chart
	bar chart
	line graph

List with phrases to describe charts

·         The pie chart is about ...

·         The bar chart deals with ...

·         The line graph (clearly) shows ...

·         The slices of the pie chart compare the ...

·         The chart is divided into ... parts.

·         It highlights ...

·         ... has the largest (number of) ...

·         ... has the second largest (number of) ...

·         ... is as big as ...

·         ... is twice as big as ...

·         ... is bigger than ...

·         more than ... per cent ...

·         only one third ...

·         less than half ...

·         The number ... increases/goes up/grows by ...

·         The number ... decreases/goes down/sinks by ...

·         The number ... does not change/remains stable

·         I was really surprised/shocked by the ...

·         So we can say ...

Use of Tenses

Mind the correct use of tenses when describung a chart. If the charts deals with facts in the present (as in our example), use the Simple Present, if the facts are the past, then use the Simple Past. If there is a connection between the past and the present, use the Present Perfect.