How to Do a Linear Scale on Excel
By Ryan Menezes
Charts in Excel spreadsheets can use either of two types of scales. Linear scales, the default type, feature equally spaced increments. In logarithmic scales, each increment is a multiple of the previous one, such as double or ten times its size. Logarithmic scales track very fast growth. For example, if you track visitors to a new company landing site you might expect traffic to initially grow exponentially. If growth does not meet these high expectations, your chart will display growth more clearly if you revert to the conventional linear scale.
Click the Excel chart's y-axis to select it.
Right-click and click "Format Axis" to open the Format Axis dialog box.
Click "Axis Options" in the dialog box's sidebar.
Click the check box labeled "Logarithmic scale" to deselect it.
Click "Close" to apply a linear scale to the chart.
Warnings
Information in this article applies to Excel 2010. It may differ slightly or significantly with other versions.
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Writer Bio
Ryan Menezes is a professional writer and blogger. He has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Boston University and has written for the American Civil Liberties Union, the marketing firm InSegment and the project management service Assembla. He is also a member of Mensa and the American Parliamentary Debate Association.