Graying everything out, small multiples, and motion (through animation/interactivity):
Lonely Line Chart? Try Shading Under the Line
What if your line chart only shows a single variable? Here’s how to fix it with everyday software like Excel.
3 Ways to Fix Dense Graphs
Last updated:
Oct 27th, 2025
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More about Ann K. Emery
Ann K. Emery is a sought-after speaker who is determined to get your data out of spreadsheets and into stakeholders’ hands. Each year, she leads more than 100 workshops, webinars, and keynotes for thousands of people around the globe. Her design consultancy also overhauls graphs, publications, and slideshows with the goal of making technical information easier to understand for non-technical audiences.
Ann K. Emery is a sought-after speaker who is determined to get your data out of spreadsheets and into stakeholders’ hands. Each year, she leads more than 100 workshops, webinars, and keynotes for thousands of people around the globe. Her design consultancy also overhauls graphs, publications, and slideshows with the goal of making technical information easier to understand for non-technical audiences.
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