Add a Graph to Microsoft Word
This article teaches you how to add a data chart to your Microsoft Word document.
Contents
Steps
Inserting a Graph into Word
- Open a Microsoft Word document. To do so, you can double-click an existing Word document, or you can open Microsoft Word and select your document from the Recent section.
- If you're opening a new document, simply open the Microsoft Word program and click Blank document instead.
- Click in the document where you want to insert your graph. Doing so will place the blinking cursor where you clicked; this is where your graph will appear when you add it.
- For example, clicking below a paragraph of text will set that location as the place to insert your graph.
- Click the Insert tab. It's at the top of the Word page, to the right of the Home tab.
- Click Chart. You'll see this option below and to the right of the Insert tab. Its icon resembles several different-colored bars.
- Click a chart format. These are listed on the left side of the Chart pop-up window.
- A few common chart formats are Line, Column, and Pie.
- You can customize your chart's format by clicking an appearance option at the top of your format's window.
- Click OK. Doing so will insert your chart into your document.
- You'll also see a small Excel window with cells appear--this is where you'll input your data.
Adding Data to Your Graph
- Click a cell in the Excel window. Doing so will select it, which will allow you to add a point of data to that cell.
- The values in the "A" column dictate the X-axis data of your graph.
- The values in the "1" row each pertain to a different line or bar (e.g., "B1" is a line or bar, "C1" is a different line or bar, and so on).
- Numerical values outside of the "A" column or the "1" row represent different points of data on the Y-axis.
- Anything written in an Excel cell can be re-written to reflect your data.
- Type in a number or name.
- Press ↵ Enter or ⏎ Return. Doing so will enter your data into the cell, allowing you to move on to another cell.
- Repeat this process for every point of data you need. As you enter data, your graph will change to display it.
- Click X in the top right corner of the Excel window. Doing so will close the window and save your graph changes.
- You can re-open the Excel window at any time by clicking on your graph.
Tips
- On Word 2010 or earlier, the Excel window will pop up outside of Microsoft Word as an entirely new Excel document.
Warnings
- Make sure you save your work!
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