How to add a title, axis name and unit to an Excel chart

Key points of this article

The title explains what the whole picture is about, and the axis names explain what each axis represents. The two have different divisions of labor and should not be substituted for each other.
The unit is written in parentheses of the axis name, such as "Sales (10,000 yuan)", which is more clear than writing it after each scale number.
When the title or label needs to be separated into lines, use Alt+Enter to manually break the line in the editing state. This will only affect this place.
The title can be linked to the cell. The chart title will change after the source data is updated, so there is no need to manually change the word every time.

When making charts, many people just draw the data and put it directly into the report or send it to colleagues. As a result, others cannot understand what the vertical axis represents, nor can they tell whether the number is yuan or ten thousand yuan. The horizontal and vertical coordinate names, units and titles determine whether the chart can be read or not. However, these annotations and the scale settings of the coordinate axes are two different things. When many people look for the "Coordinate Axis" option, they find that there is another place to change.

This article is written for people who need to make reports, weekly report charts or paper illustrations in Excel. After reading, you will be able to distinguish where the title, axis name, unit and text description are placed, know how to write the unit, and how to deal with labels that need to be wrapped. This article only talks about labeling text and does not involve parameters such as scale range and spacing.

How to add the title, axis name and unit of the chart to make it easier to read? One sentence conclusion

One-sentence conclusion: the title tells what the chart is about, the axis names tell what each axis represents, the units are written in the brackets of the axis names, and text is used when additional explanation is needed.

your situation	Recommended practices	reason
Charts should be placed separately in the report	Add a chart title and write "Indicator + Time Range"	Readers can understand what the picture is about without reading the text.
Column charts, line charts, etc. have two axes: horizontal and vertical.	Add axis names to the two axes	The meaning of each axis is visible at a glance
Values have units (yuan, pieces, %)	The unit is written in the brackets of the axis name, such as "Sales (10,000 yuan)"	Only numbers are written on the scale, so there is no need to repeatedly convert when reading.
Want to point out a certain high point or outlier?	Use text boxes or data labels for text descriptions	The description follows the picture and does not crowd out the title.
Titles or tags should be separated into separate lines	Use Alt+Enter to manually wrap lines when editing	Only change this part of the line break, the data will not be affected

Before you start: Confirm these points first

Confirm that the source data area is correct. The text on the chart is attached to the chart. If the source data is selected wrong, no matter how precise the labeling is, it will be wrong. Check the rows and columns referenced by the chart before you start.
Confirm whether the chart type has two axes. The pie chart has no axes and can only add titles and data labels. The two numerical axes of the scatter chart must be named separately. If one axis is missing, the reader can easily confuse the two indicators.
Unify the writing method of units. In the same picture, do not mix "ten thousand yuan" and "yuan". When the value is very large, it is clearer to write "ten thousand yuan" in the name than to pile up many zeros on the scale. It is recommended to use full-angle brackets for brackets.
First think about how long the title should be. It is recommended that the title in the chart be controlled in one line, and the indicator and time range can be written clearly. Long explanatory text should be placed in the main text or figure captions, but not squeezed into the figure.

Steps to add horizontal and vertical coordinate names in Excel charts

Click on the chart to select the entire chart.
Find the plus button that appears on the right side of the chart (i.e., the chart element entrance) and check the axis title. If the software versions are different, you can also find the same option in the Add Chart Element menu of the chart tool.
The default axis title box will appear on the chart. Click it to enter the editing state.
Delete the default text and enter the axis name, such as "month" or "sales (10,000 yuan)".
Repeat the above operation for the other axis. Both numerical axes of the scatter chart must be set, and the column chart usually only needs one for the category axis and one for the numerical axis.
Click in a blank space of the chart to end editing. Observe whether the two names are posted next to the corresponding axes.

Check each item after completion

Check items	How to see	What if there's a problem?
Whether the name corresponds to the axis	See which axis the name is close to, and compare the rows and rows of the data table.	When the name is misplaced, delete the rewrite and make sure that the correct axis is checked
Whether the unit is fully written or not	Data units of the source table	Fill in the parentheses of the axis name, not just after the number
Is the title consistent with the data?	Check the index name, time range and caliber	Change the title to the real header of the source table to avoid handwriting mistakes
Is it natural to change lines?	Look at the line-breaking position of the title in the picture	When a line break is stiff, move the newline character and delete any extra blank lines
The text indicates whether to follow the picture.	After moving or zooming the chart, look at the position of the text box	When the text box floats outside the diagram, drag it back into the chart area to avoid misplacement when printing or copying

# Core comparison

There are four common ways to add text to a chart, each for different purposes:

Mode	What is suitable for doing?	Matters needing attention
Chart title	Explain the theme and time range of the whole picture	Write short and highlight the indicator name
Axis title	State what the axis represents and mark the units	One for each axis. Do not repeat the scale information in the name.
Text box	Point out a point, supplement the background	Location will not automatically follow the data, suitable for a small number of instructions
Data label	Display the specific value, you can also add a description	Data points will be huddled together for a long time, marking only key points

Chart titles have another practical trick: you can link to cells. After selecting the chart title, enter the equal sign in the edit bar, and then click the cell where the title text is stored, and the title will change with the contents of the cell. Update with post-source data, the title does not need to be manually modified, and there is no mismatch between the diagram and the table.

# frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. How do I wrap the text in the chart?

In the editing state of the title or axis name, place the cursor where you need to disconnect and press Alt+Enter to wrap the line. Pressing Enter directly is unstable in different versions, and Alt+Enter is a more general way to wrap lines.

2. What if the Abscissa name is too long and the display is incomplete?

First shorten the name and move the unit to parentheses, for example, change "the statistical result of total monthly sales" to "monthly sales (ten thousand yuan)". If it is still too long, you can use Alt+Enter to split it into two lines, or widen the chart as appropriate.

3. Should the unit be placed after the number or written in the name of the axis?

It is suggested that it be written in parentheses of the name of the axis, such as "output (tons)". If each scale number is followed by a unit, the surface will look messy and not easy to compare. Data labels are used to supplement units only when individual data needs to be explained separately.

4. Can the title of the chart be synchronized with the contents of the table?

Sure. Use cell links to set the title, which changes according to the contents of the cell. This method is suitable for weekly or monthly reports that update data frequently, and can reduce errors caused by manual word modification.

# Summary

Whether the chart is easy to read depends on whether the title, axis name and unit are clearly written. Follow the above steps to add the horizontal and vertical coordinate names of the Excel chart, and then use Alt+Enter to process line wrapping, so that the reader can understand the chart without looking at the text.

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