In this post, I am discussing about the common errors in Scatter chart in Google Sheets.

Scatter is the best chart to show the relationship between two sets of data. Thankfully Google Sheets supports Scatter chart.

A scatter chart in Google Sheets can suggest various kinds of correlations between variables that with a certain confidence interval. See this Wiki for more info on the Scatter chart.

In this post, I am addressing a few common errors that you may face while creating a Scatter chart in Google Sheets.

Common Errors in Scatter Chart That You May Face

The below are the four common errors that you may face in creating a Scatter Plot.

1. Incorrect x-axis values.

2. No option to add data point labels.

3. Data point labels incorrectly added to the x-axis as labels.

4. Error in the Trendline equation due to the improper scaling of the x-axis.

How to Fix the Above Common Errors in Scatter Chart

Many Google Sheets users face issue with plotting a correct Scatter chart in a conventional way with two set of numeric values.

Most of the time Google Sheets will plot the correct chart. But sometimes it miserably fails. Let’s see how to address above common errors in the Scatter plot that you may face.

Standard Format to Create a Scatter Plot:

Let’s see how to correct the common errors in Scatter chart step by step.

How to Solve the Incorrect X-axis value in Scatter Graph

Here I am taking the column A and B values (x-axis and y-axis only) from the above sample data.

Steps to insert a proper Scatter chart:

1. Select the range A1: B7.

2. Go to the menu Insert > Chart.

3. Select chart type – Scatter (the default one may be column or line chart).

The correct chart should look like as below.

Sometimes Google Sheets will draw your chart as below.

If you see something like this you need to make some adjustments in the “CUSTOMISE” as well as “EDIT” tabs of the chart editor.

See how to solve the incorrect x-axis value in this Scatter chart.

There are two settings that you should take care of. They are;

1. Enable “Use column A as labels”.

2. Uncheck “Treat labels as text”.

These two settings must solve the most common errors in Scatter chart in Google Sheets. Here is the next common error.

Data Point Labels Incorrectly Added to X-axis/No Option to Add Data Point Labels.

Again I am using the data under the above title ‘Standard Format to Create a Scatter Plot’.

Steps:

Select the range A1: C7 and then insert the Scatter chart using the Insert menu > Scatter.

The Correct Scatter Chart with Data Point Labels:

The Incorrect Scatter Plot That Google Sheets May Draw:

See how to solve the incorrect data labels or no data labels in the Scatter chart.

Step 1:

The reason for this error: Google Sheets may have incorrectly added the data labels to the x-axis.

Just follow the instructions on the screenshot below to correct this common Scatter graph error.

After doing the above settings as per the screenshot, again in the “DATA” tab in chart editor, make a tick mark against “Use column A as labels. You will see that option once you have made the changes as per the image above.

Then under the “CUSTOMISE” tab uncheck “Treat labels as text” that is below the “Horizontal axis”.

Finally under the series “Average weight” make the following settings.

This can solve the incorrect data point label issue. Let me take you to the next error.

How to Correct The Scatter Chart Trendline Equation Error – Proper Scaling of X-Axis

You may find an error in the equation in Scatter chart in Google Sheets. You can compare your trendline equation in Scatter chart in Google Sheets by simply drawing a scatter chart in Excel.

Trendline in Scatter chart may show an incorrect equation due to the following.

1. Wrong Selection of X-axis

I mean if the check mark against “Treat labels as text” is checked (this already explained above), then you will see a wrong equation.

I forgot to say how to draw a linear trendline in Scatter Chart. It’s under the “CUSTOMISE” tab of the chart editor. Check the drop-down “Series” in that tab.

If you have properly followed all the steps above correctly, then the trendline equation will also be correct. If not, it would be due to the wrong scaling of values in the x-axis.

2. Wrong Scaling of X-axis:

If you see the wrong equation in the Scatter chart, it can be due to the wrong scaling of the x-axis.

How to properly scale the x-axis in Scatter chart in Google Sheets?

I could find a solution to solve this error. Actually, it’s a workaround, not a direct solution.

To correctly scale the x-axis, plot the chart differently. How?

1. Select the source data.

2. Then enter the shortcut key Alt+Shift+x. It will open the “Explore” sidebar panel.

3. Click on Correlation of x-axis and y-axis.

Note: Sometimes you may see the correlation of y-axis and x-axis. If so close the sidebar panel and apply the shortcut key again. This time Google Sheets may correctly show the x-axis and y-axis.

4. Click “Insert Chart” to insert the Scatter chart that available in the sidebar panel.

You will get a correctly scaled scatter chart. Double click on the chart and from the chart editor customize tab, draw trendline and equation.

It’will be a correct trendline equation in the Scatter graph.

That’s all about common errors in Scatter chart. Hope you have enjoyed the stay.

Related Tutorials:

1. Google Sheets – Add Labels to Data Points in Scatter Chart.

2. Scatter Chart in Google Sheets and Its Difference with Line Chart.

3. How to Format Data to Make Charts in Google Sheets.

4. Google Sheets Charts: Built-in Charts, Dynamic Charts, and Custom Charts.