FigureCheckAxis labels
How to label scientific graph axes and units
Write axis labels that identify the measured quantity, its unit, and any transformation without forcing the reader to guess.
Hands-on example
Try this in FigureCheck
Replace generic labels with quantity names and units, then check them at the final figure size.
Opens a small synthetic dataset with a step-by-step guide in a new editable session.Name the quantity, not the column
Replace internal names such as temp_avg or Column B with the quantity a reader understands. Good labels include Time (s), Mass (kg), and Absorbance at 600 nm. Keep the same terminology in the graph, caption, and method.
Place units consistently
Put units in parentheses or after a slash according to the convention required by your course or journal. Do not attach units to every tick label. Dimensionless quantities should be named clearly rather than given invented units.
If the plotted value is transformed, state it: log10 concentration is not the same axis as concentration displayed on a logarithmic scale. The logarithmic axes guide explains this distinction.
Check labels at the final size
- Use readable wording instead of unexplained abbreviations.
- Keep significant figures in the data, not in an overlong axis title.
- Make the title describe the relationship rather than repeating Y versus X.
- Verify that labels are not clipped in the exported image.
Use the clear scientific graph guide for a complete visual checklist.