Briefle words · Data & charts
Annotation
A short note, label or marker placed on the chart itself to explain a specific point, change or anomaly the data alone does not say.
Say it to an AI
Line chart of daily signups for the last two weeks as a time series with three gridlines. Add one annotation at the Oct 9 spike, a marker plus 'Oct 9: TV campaign aired, 410 signups', so the anomaly is explained on the chart itself; no other labels needed.
How an expert would brief the stronger version of “Daily signups chart”.
See it
Try it as a puzzle →Acquisition chart on the growth dashboard of a language-learning app.
Why: B's grey leader line and the text 'Oct 9: TV campaign aired, 410 signups' sit beside the peak; A has no explanation.
More ways experts use it
Line chart of weekly on-time delivery for eight weeks on a 90 to 100% axis. Add a reference line (target line) at 95%, dashed and red with an annotation 'Target 95%' at its right end, so weeks below target are obvious; keep the target in the subtitle too.
On-time delivery chart · Data & charts
Related words
Room 1 · Essentials
Learn “Annotation” in a five-minute lesson