Graphs Summary

Verbs
Use past simple for completed changes in the past.
Use present perfect for changes which started in the past and continue until
now.
an upward trend

the highest point

stability

climb
double
go up
grow
improve
increase
jump
pick up (after low
period)
recover (after low
period)
rocket
shoot up
take off
a downward trend

peak
reach a peak

even out
hold firm
level off
remain stable
remain steady
stabilise
stagnate (negative)

the lowest point

fluctuation

bottom out
hit a low
slump

fluctuate

come down
decrease
deteriorate
drop
fall
go down
halve
plunge
shrink
slip back (after a high
point)
Adverbs
Amount of change

Created by Sandy Millin

Graphs Summary
1. dramatically
2. vastly, hugely, enormously
3. substantially, considerable,
significantly
4. moderately
5. slightly, a little
Speed of change

1. sharply, rapidly, quickly, swiftly

2. consistently, steadily, gradually
3. slowly

Prepositions
1. to emphasize the difference between

a. fromto [from 20 to 40]

before and after

2. to show a single point on the graph

b. at [at 120p]

(almost always a high / low)

3. to show the amount of change
4. to show an approximate amount

c. by [by 20% / by 20]

d. about/around [about 200

5. to show a figure (slightly) bigger than

6. to show a figure (slightly) smaller than

people]
e. (just) over [just over 20m]
f. (just) under [just under

7. to show the final point in an ongoing

20m]
g. to [to 30]

change
NOTE: an increase of 20%, to fluctuate between 200m and 250m
Adjectives and nouns

There + be (+ quite) + a / an (+ adjective) + noun + preposition

Date + see (+ quite) + a / an (+ adjective) + noun + preposition

Adverb
considerably
dramatically
enormously
hugely

Adjective
considerable
dramatic
enormous
huge

Created by Sandy Millin

Graphs Summary
moderately
significantly
slightly
substantially
vastly
consistently
gradually
quickly
rapidly
sharply
slowly
steadily
swiftly

moderate
significant
slight
substantial
vast
consistent
gradual
quick
rapid
sharp
slow
steady
swift

Verb
to increase
to grow
to improve
to jump
to recover
to decrease
to deteriorate
to drop
to fall
to shrink
to peak
to plunge
to slump
to stagnate
to level off
to fluctuate
[to fluctuate]

Noun (+ article)
an increase
a growth
an improvement
a jump
a recovery
a decrease
a deterioration
a drop
a fall
a shrinkage
a peak
a plunge
a slump
a stagnation
a levelling off
a fluctuation
ups and downs

Created by Sandy Millin

Linking Phrases
Introducing the graph
The above graph

Introducing a contrast
This is in contrast to

shows

On the other hand

The graph on page 4 of

However

Introducing bad news

Unfortunately

the report shows

Showing a sequence

Showing results

This was followed by

As a result

This was preceded by

As a consequence

This led to

Consequently

This led on from

This has resulted in

Highlighting important
information
Most importantly