Each point in a scatter plot aligns a single data measurement on the x axis with its corresponding measure on the y axis. If there is an association between these 2 measures, the ‘scatter’ of points will form a telling shape. For example, the shape of the scattered points will approximate a diagonal line from the bottom left to the top right of the graph if values along the y axis tend to increase along with values on the x axis. This indicates a positive, linear correlation (see graph below). Stronger correlations are evidenced by a tight concentration of points around this line; a greater spread of points indicates a weak correlation. Scatter plots can also be useful for showing nonlinear (eg curvilinear) associations.