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

peak

reach a peak

even out

hold firm

level off

remain stable

remain steady

stabilise

stagnate (negative)

a downward trend the lowest point fluctuation

come down

decrease

deteriorate

drop

fall

go down

halve

plunge

shrink

slip back (after a high point)

bottom out

hit a low

slump

fluctuate

Created by Sandy Millin

Graphs Summary

Adverbs

Amount of change

1. dramatically2. vastly, hugely, enormously3. substantially, considerable,

significantly4. moderately5. slightly, a little

Speed of change

1. sharply, rapidly, quickly, swiftly2. consistently, steadily, gradually3. slowly

Prepositions

1. to emphasize the difference between

before and after

a. from…to… [from £20 to £40]

2. to show a single point on the graph

(almost always a high / low)

b. at… [at 120p]

3. to show the amount of change c. by… [by 20% / by £20]

4. to show an approximate amount d. about/around… [about 200

people]

5. to show a figure (slightly) bigger than… e. (just) over… [just over £20m]

6. to show a figure (slightly) smaller than… f. (just) under… [just under

£20m]

7. to show the final point in an ongoing

change

g. to… [to £30]

NOTE: an increase of 20%, to fluctuate between £200m and £250m

Created by Sandy Millin

Graphs Summary

Adjectives and nouns

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

Adverb Adjective

considerably considerable

dramatically dramatic

enormously enormous

hugely huge

moderately moderate

significantly significant

slightly slight

substantially substantial

vastly vast

consistently consistent

gradually gradual

quickly quick

rapidly rapid

sharply sharp

slowly slow

steadily steady

swiftly swift

Verb Noun (+ article)

to increase an increase

to grow a growth

to improve an improvement

to jump a jump

to recover a recovery

to decrease a decrease

to deteriorate a deterioration

to drop a drop

to fall a fall

to shrink a shrinkage

to peak a peak

to plunge a plunge

to slump a slump

to stagnate a stagnation

to level off a levelling off

to fluctuate a fluctuation

[to fluctuate] ups and downs

Created by Sandy Millin

Graphs Summary

Linking Phrases

Introducing the graph Introducing a contrast Introducing bad newsThe above graph

shows…

The graph on page 4 of

the report shows…

This is in contrast to…

On the other hand…

However…

Unfortunately…

Showing a sequence Showing results Highlighting important information

This was followed by…

This was preceded by…

This led to…

This led on from…

As a result…

As a consequence…

Consequently…

This has resulted in…

Most importantly…

Created by Sandy Millin