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This a common claim, but really non-zero y-mins are absolutely fine. Do you think that every weather chart is wrong because it doesn't begin from absolute zero
by djrobstep 7y ago
This a common claim, but really non-zero y-mins are absolutely fine.
Do you think that every weather chart is wrong because it doesn't begin from absolute zero?
Usually when charts have misleading y-ranges, the real problem is lack of x-axis context.
For instance, a chart with unemployment over the last three years can be made clearer by showing unemployment over the last 50 years.
Much better to give a wider picture than pointlessly add whitespace.
- glofish 7y agozero y-mins are usually recommended to show both the absolute values and relative variation at the same time. Based on my own experience, the number of plots that are misleading because they do not start at zero is far greater than that of those that are insufficiently informative because they do start at zero. That alone is not a reason for "banning" non-zero ymins, but it is definitely a good reason to more critically evaluate their use.