Using Break Axis in Grapher

An axis break allows you to skip a range of values on an axis and plot, making it easier to display data with large gaps or outliers. This helps focus attention on key data ranges without compressing or distorting the rest of the graph.

In Grapher, you can break an axis and use a specific symbol on both the plot and the axis itself to indicate where the break is. This is available for any plots where Break Axis is enabled. 

To break the axis and change the symbol properties:

1. In the Object Manager, click the desired axis to select it.
2. In the Property Manager, click on the Break Axis tab.
3. In the Break Axis section, check the box next to Break axis box to break the axis.
4. Choose which data interval you would like to be skipped in the graph by entering axis values into the Break from and Break to fields.
5. In the Break mark properties section, choose the desired axis break symbol from the Type field. 
6. Choose the desired plot break symbol from the Break plot with field.
   • Use Symbol to manually choose a specific symbol to use in the Plot break symbol section.
   • Use Axis break mark to use the same symbol as the axis break symbol. 
   • Use Grid line to draw a grid lines at the start and end of the break.
   • Use None to leave an empty gap at the break.

Click Add in the Add break field if you wish to create more than one break in the axis.

Show an axis break with empty space (upper left), a user-defined symbol (upper right), the break axis symbol (lower left), or grid lines (lower right).

Updated May 2025