Which issue corresponds to data being left out of a chart?

• A. The legend is missing
• B. The colors are too similar
• C. The data source is unreliable
• D. The data is left out

Answer: (D)

Leaving data out means the chart doesn’t show all the information it should, leaving out some values or categories. When that happens, the chart gives an incomplete view, which can mislead someone about the true story the data tell. For example, if a chart of quarterly sales omits one quarter, you might think sales were higher or lower than they actually were, changing the perceived trend.

If the legend is missing, you can still see the data, but you can’t tell what each color or pattern represents, so interpretation becomes harder. If the colors are too similar, it’s hard to distinguish categories, even though all data are present. If the data source is unreliable, that affects trust in the chart rather than whether data were omitted.