Naming Basics Best practice recommendations are to create a chart placing independent variables on the horizontal, x-axis and dependent variables on the vertical, y-axis.

Graphs in Microsoft Excel typically chart time on the horizontal axis. Time is the independent variable in most relationships and dependent variables appear on the vertical axis.

We discuss a comment on a previous post stating that the text of labels on the vertical axis of graphs must be horizontal by discussing the pros and cons of four possible positions for these labels.

If you have uneven distribution of data in your Excel chart, here is a better way to change the automatic axis settings.

In Microsoft Excel, to draw attention to a specific marker in a line chart, drop in a thin line, think of it as a marker.