Vocabulary/ Expressions

Useful introductory expressions:

The graph shows / indicates / depicts / illustrates
From the graph it is clear
It can be seen from the graph
As can be seen from the graph,
As is shown / illustrated by the graph,

Below are lists of verbs and nouns that can be used to describe a line

a
graph .

Upward trend
rise / a rise
m
increase / an increase
climb / a climb
grow / a growth/
a peak
a surge
hu
go up

Quick changes

a fluctuation
a variation

No Changes
a period of stability
a plateau
remain steady
remain stable
remain unchanged
level off

Downward trend
decrease / a decrease
drop / a drop
fall / a fall
decline / a decline
dip /a dip

a
to dive
to plunge
m
Line Graph Adverbs & Adjectives
Below are useful adverbs and adjectives to describe change.

Adverbs: steadily, gradually, sharply, rapidly, steeply, slightly, dramatically,

significantly, considerably,suddenly
hu
marginally, markedly

Adjectives: steady, gradual, sharp, rapid, steep, slight, dramatic, significant,

considerable, sudden
abrupt,marked,slight, gentle

4. Time Expressions
The line graphs show change over a period of time. Below are some
expressions to help you describe the passing of time without too much
repetition.
Time phrases:
 ● over the next three days
● three days later
● in the following three days
● the next three days show
● over the period
● from...to... / between ... and... the last year
● the final year
● the first year
● at the beginning of the period at the end of the period

a
Useful Phrases
showed an upward trend / showed a downward trend
hit the highest point / hit the lowest point
m
reached a peak / showed some fluctuation / fluctuated wildly
remained stable / remained static / remained unchanged /stayed constant
reached a plateau / levelled o" / flattened out
the highest / the lowest / the second highest / the third highest compared to
/ compared with / relative to
hu
Example sentences:
1. Sales of ice cream #attened out toward the end of the period.
2. Sales of ice cream showed some #uctuation between 2000 and 2008.
3. Car export !gures hit the lowest point in 2014.
4. The !gure for CO2 emissions was the third highest among the four
countries.
5. Coal exports showed a downward trend throughout the 10 year period.
6. The number of cars sold levelled o" in the last part of the 20 year period.
Collocations to describe trends
Sample Sentences
1. There was a substantial increase in the value of stocks on March 15th. 2.
House prices rose dramatically in July.
3. The number of tourists visiting New York fell sharply in October.
4. The number of students studying Economics rose gradually from 2001 to
2010.
5. There was a sharp increase in employee turnover after the strike.
6. Interest in environmental issues has risen steadily over the last 10 years.
7. The proportion of biofuels used in Germany in 2009 rose marginally from
30% to 32%.

a
Prepositions:

Prepositions are needed to describe dates and statistics:

m● Dates
In December,
In 2005,
From 2001 to 2010,
By 1998,
hu
Between 1965 and 1969 Over a ten year period

● Numbers
An Increase of 25%.
Decreased by 10%.
Fell from 200 in July to 150 in August.
Dropped from 200 units to 120 units in a period of 6 months.
Rose sharply over a period of 5 years.
Started at one third and peaked at three thirds
Fell from 30% to just over 20%