---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-chart-states-its-message.md
title: "Put the point of a chart in words next to it"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "US government work, public domain; original synthesis in our own words"
license_family: usgov
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: U.S. Web Design System (GSA), Data visualizations, US government work, public domain; U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, A Plain English Handbook, US government work, public domain; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Clear Communication Index: User Guide, US government work, public domain."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-09
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-09
as_of: 2026-11-09
confidence: medium
untested: "Editorial checklist only; not tested with readers. Sources fetched and evidence checked."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "summarize"
tags: [plain-language, charts, summarize, captions]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Data visualizations"
    publisher: U.S. Web Design System (GSA)
    url: https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/data-visualizations/
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S2
    title: "A Plain English Handbook"
    publisher: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
    url: https://www.sec.gov/pdf/handbook.pdf
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S3
    title: "CDC Clear Communication Index: User Guide"
    publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    url: https://www.cdc.gov/ccindex/pdf/clear-communication-user-guide.pdf
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
---
# Put the point of a chart in words next to it

**Answer:** If a visualization explains a specific point, don't leave the audience guessing as to the conclusion. State the intended message as text.

## U.S. Web Design System

- If the visualization explains a specific point, clearly state the author's intended message as text.
- Provide explanations or summaries that make sense to the target audience, not just the author.
- Its example charts have a clear summary, because users may not understand some narrative objectives from a graphic alone.
- The examples also link the original source data.
- A data table is not an equivalent narrative; add trends or a statistical summary in plain text.

## SEC handbook

A graphic and its text should be together; don't force the reader on a detour to another page to find the graphic.

## CDC Clear Communication Index

All visuals need labels and captions, which help audiences get the gist and reduce chances of misinterpretation.

## See also

- [plain-simple-charts](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-simple-charts/)
- [plain-visual-supports-main-message](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-visual-supports-main-message/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: USWDS: get to the point.
  source: S1
  evidence: "don't leave the audience guessing as to the conclusion they're meant to draw."

- id: C2
  claim: USWDS: examples include a clear summary.
  source: S1
  evidence: "There is a clear summary."

- id: C3
  claim: SEC: keep graphic and text together.
  source: S2
  evidence: "A graphic and its text should be together."

- id: C4
  claim: CCI: visuals need labels and captions.
  source: S3
  evidence: "all visuals need to have labels and captions"

## Sources

- [S1] Data visualizations. U.S. Web Design System (GSA). https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/data-visualizations/ . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S2] A Plain English Handbook. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://www.sec.gov/pdf/handbook.pdf . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S3] CDC Clear Communication Index: User Guide. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/ccindex/pdf/clear-communication-user-guide.pdf . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: US federal government works (GSA, GPO, SEC, CDC), public domain in the United States; third-party quotations inside those works were not used. Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

---

Agents: [/agents.md](/agents.md) | [/.well-known/agent-library.json](/.well-known/agent-library.json).