Scatter controls let you specify three categories of variables: axes variables. For a scatter plot, at least two axes variables are required : one independent (x) and one dependent (y). For a surface ...

These chart types allow number and word variables, where Line charts, Scatter charts, and Area charts require two numeric variables. Customize the chart by clicking the "Design," "Layout" and ...

First, it is not a simple comparison of just two elements as you would find in a bar chart, or numbers over time as in a line graph. The scatterplot plots two variables in relationship to each other.

It's easy to throw your data up on a scatter or bar chart, slip it into a presentation, and convince yourself you'll do the explaining, but that's a terrible shortcut.