The most commonly used chart type for discrete data is the column chart. Each vertical column in the chart represents one data value, with the height of the column denoting the frequency of the value.

For example, Column charts illustrate how data changes over time, but they’re also the best design to show comparisons among items. Bar charts are, essentially, just horizontal Column charts and ...

For example, one data series in a line chart can represent actual profit and the second data series in a column chart can represent projected profits over time.

When the relationship between the charted entities is less important than the individual entities, try using these two chart techniques to highlight important details in Microsoft Excel.