deviation chart

Everything measured against one chosen reference, drawn as signed distance from a baseline instead of as raw height. The choice of reference is the argument. Your own average, last year, the plan, the person you envy: each one produces a different picture from identical data, so the baseline gets a label and stays visible.

Everything measured against one chosen reference, drawn as signed distance from a baseline instead of as raw height. The choice of reference is the argument. Your own average, last year, the plan, the person you envy: each one produces a different picture from identical data, so the baseline gets a label and stays visible.

Example

Best when raw values mean little on their own and the question is really better or worse than what.