Briefle words · Data & charts
Context series
A reference line or bar, such as a benchmark, average or last year, drawn quietly so it frames the main series without competing with it.
Say it to an AI
Quarterly NPS line chart, eight quarters, our score against the industry median. Treat the median as a context series: thinner, grey, grey end label. Keep the highlight color for our line only, with direct labels at the line ends and the takeaway title that we passed the median in Q4 2025.
How an expert would brief the stronger version of “NPS vs. industry chart”.
See it
Try it as a puzzle →Customer-health chart in the quarterly board pack of a B2B invoicing product.
Why: B's industry median is a 2px #9CA3AF line with a grey label, while our score keeps the blue.
Related words
Room 5 · Color & emphasis
Learn “Context series” in a five-minute lesson