# Excel Graphing: How to Edit Legend Text?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphing-how-to-edit-legend-text/696604
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [August 27, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphing-how-to-edit-legend-text/696604 "2014-08-27T01:38:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphing-how-to-edit-legend-text/696604/1 "2014-08-27T01:38:28Z")

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Yup, that’s the size of it. How can I edit the text labels in the legend? FYI: I have two sets of “Y” values graphed against one set of “X” values on a scatter graph with the dots connected. I need to label each set of “Y” values so it is clear what is what.

Please give me a crash course as Excel is changed so much. Thanks!

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### Author: ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphing-how-to-edit-legend-text/696604/2 "2014-08-27T02:44:40Z")

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Just change the text labels? You can right click on the graph, click **Select Data** , click **Edit** , change it there, then **OK** , then click the second Series and do the same.

I think that is basically similar to 2003 and before?

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### Author: ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graphing-how-to-edit-legend-text/696604/3 "2014-08-27T03:04:14Z")

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Assume you want to graph the populations of two kinds of bugs over yearly measurements. You have your data laid out like this, starting at A11:

```auto

       A B C ...
...
11 Year Ants Bees
12 1994 200 250
13 1995 210 390
14 1996 220 370
15 1997 302 370
...

```

(It’s more convenient to have your data labels just above the data columns.)

You insert your line chart from the Insert section of the Ribbon. Your chart appears as just a blank rectangle. Then you right-click on it and choose Select Data.

You highlight from B11 to C15 (so just the two population columns, titles included). This will appear on the left side of the “Select Data Source” box, under “Legend Entries (Series)”. Your chart will already have a legend showing which line is for ants and which line is for bees.

Then you need to label the X axis. On the right side of the “Select Data Source” dialog box, under “Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels”, click on Edit. Highlight from A12 to A15 and click OK. The years will appear along the X axis.
