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Useful Language For Data Commentary - Charles Darwin University

The document provides useful language and phrases for data commentary, highlighting how to draw attention to graphics, describe numbers, and make comparisons. It includes examples of how to present data effectively, comment on significant findings, and articulate relationships between variables. Additionally, it offers guidance on using percentages, fractions, and prepositions in data descriptions.

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molinaar712
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9 views3 pages

Useful Language For Data Commentary - Charles Darwin University

The document provides useful language and phrases for data commentary, highlighting how to draw attention to graphics, describe numbers, and make comparisons. It includes examples of how to present data effectively, comment on significant findings, and articulate relationships between variables. Additionally, it offers guidance on using percentages, fractions, and prepositions in data descriptions.

Uploaded by

molinaar712
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Useful language for data commentary

Drawing your readers’ attention to your graphic

shows an overview of X.
compares the experimental data on X.
Table 1 presents the summary statistics for X.
Figure 1 provides the results obtained from the analysis.

The results of the analysis are shown


The identified themes are set out
The data obtained from X are presented
are summarised in Table 1.
in Figure 1.
Health outcomes improved as can be seen
The population fell as illustrated
as shown

Highlighting important data in your graphic

The second pie chart in Figure 2 identifies the breakdown of X.


The top half of the table pinpoints the fall in population.
The last row of Table 10 highlights

What stands out in Figure 6 are X and Y.


Of note in row 3 of the table is the high demand for X.
The most interesting aspect of the second image
What is striking in

Commenting on important data in your graphic

A possible explanation for this might be that …


This result may be accounted for by the fact that …
These relationships may partly be explained by …
This inconsistency may be due to …
These results are likely to be related to …
This discrepancy could be attributed to …

Adapted from: https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/reporting-results/

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Describing numbers
Most... The most... The least...
The majority of ... A minority of ...
Numbers The greatest number of ... The least number of ...

The number went up by 600, from 1200 to 1800.

A high/higher percentage of ... A low/lower percentage of ...


Percentages 80% of X 25% of Y.

The number went up by 50%, from 1200 to 1800.

The greatest part... The smallest part...


Fractions Three quarters… Less than a third…
Just over one fifth… Just under one tenth

The number went up by half, from 1200 to 1800.

To double, -fold, and times


• The number doubled/ trebled/quadrupled between 2004 and 2022.
• A twofold increase occurred between 2002 and 2014.
• The figure in 2016 was six times the 2002 figure.

Prepositions
on average an average of x 20% of X
between X and Y at a rate/speed of Increase/decrease from x to y
increase by X one in ten peak at X

On average, Darwin has 10 hours of sunshine each day in August.

Darwin has an average of 10 hours of sunshine each day in August.

Results show that 25% of students – or one in four - worked two or more casual jobs over summer.

Darwin temperatures in the Dry Season typically range between 21.6 and 31.8°C.

Wind gusts at a speed of 205km/h were recorded during Cyclone Tracy.

Average rainy days in Darwin decrease from 20 in February to 1 in July.

Darwin average rainfall is 252mm in January. It increases by 174mm in February.

Darwin average rainfall peaks at 426mm in February.

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Making comparisons

X = strong and important


Y = weak
X and Y = expensive

Compared to Y,
In contrast to Y, X is strong.
In comparison with Y,

X is strong. On the other hand, Y is weak.


In contrast,

while / whereas Y is weak.


X is strong
in comparison to Y.
compared to

stronger than Y.
more important than
X is not as weak as
as expensive as

Like Y, X is expensive.
Similar to Y,

Both X and Y are expensive.


Neither X nor Y are economical.

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