Both axes should be clearly labelled with categories and values. Align labels horizontally, where possible, including on the vertical y axis if the label is short and space permits. If the y axis label is aligned horizontally, place it at the top of the axis; if it is aligned vertically, place it midway down the axis.
The appropriate units should be shown in the axis title in parentheses, rather than on the axis itself:
Axis title: Distance from town (km)
Axis labels: 0, 10, 20, 30
not
Axis title: Distance from town
Axis labels: 0 km, 10 km, 20 km, 30 km
Any multipliers in axis labels should be used consistently. It is always preferable to scale units so that multipliers are not needed. If multipliers are needed, the following form should be used:
dry weight (g) × 102 number of cells × 106 cpm × 1012
The multiplier always comes at the end of the unit. To avoid confusion with magnification – for example, in photomicrographs – no brackets are used for the multiplier. Use the symbol × to indicate multiplication, not the letter x.
Tip. Category axis tick marks should be at data points rather than between data points. Tick marks are not used on bar or column graphs.
Quantitative axis tick marks should extend the full width or height of the graph so that values can be more easily determined. Keep them light in weight and tint (eg 0.5 pt at 50% grey). However, if the graph is particularly simple or small, tick marks may not be necessary.