Prepositions used to describe graphs and charts

There are several prepositions which are commonly used to describe graphs and charts. Using the right prepositions is essential to make yourself understood when referring to line movement.

There are two patterns:

Verb + preposition

Income tax has gone up from 30% to 40%. (the total increase is 10%)

Income tax has gone up by 30% to 40%. (the total increase is 30%)

Inflation has risen to 5%. (inflation is now 5%)

Inflation has risen by 5%. (if it was 10% before, now it is 15%)

Inflation has increased to 5%. (movement)

Inflation now stands at 5%. (no movement)

Noun + preposition

The increase in salaries is around 5%. (in + noun)

There was an increase of 5%. (of + number)

The exchange rate reached a peak at USD 3.76 in April. (noun + at + number)

Remember:

Use by after a verb.

Use of after a noun and before the amount.

Use in after a noun and before a topic.

Use of prepositions

This graph shows world gross domestic product growth from 1973 until the end of the 20th century. With the oil crisis in 1973, GDP growth fell sharply by 5%, from 7% in 1973 to 2% at the end of 1975. It recovered in the following year before declining ever further in the next six years to reach a low point of 1% in 1982. Over the next two years GDP growth rose steadily to reach 5% but fluctuated in the following years before plummeting again in 1997. The fall in GDP growth was due to financial crisis. It reached a low point of 1.5% before edging up slightly in 1998-99. At the beginning of 1999 it stood at 1.9%.

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