Data Science

Best Practices for Data Storytelling

SQL Mastery Team
June 8, 2026
5 min read

Welcome to **Day 138**. Today isn't about code. It's about **Design**.

1. Less is More (Remove the Junk)

Do you really need those grid lines? Does that background have to be gray? Every line on your chart should earn its place.

2. Text is Your Friend

A good chart has:

  • A clear **Title** that says the conclusion (e.g., "Retention Dropped by 20% in Q4").
  • **Annotations** pointing to specific events (e.g., "The site crash on Monday").

    • 3. Don't Lie with Data

    Avoid:

  • **Truncated Y-Axis**: Starting the axis at 90 instead of 0 to make a 2% change look like a 50% change.
  • **3D Charts**: It's harder for biological eyes to judge size in 3D. Keep it 2D.

    • Your Task for Today

    A critique! Look at a chart on a news site. Can you spot any "Chart Junk" or misleading axis choices?

    *Day 139: Mapping with GeoPandas and Folium.*

    Ready to put your knowledge into practice?

    Join SQL Mastery and learn through interactive exercises.