6.1 Noise

6.2 Simplify

6.3 Redundancy

6.4 Omit

6.3 Focused information

Minimize redundancy: Focused information

Redundancy also includes duplicate elements which are unnecessary. A certain amount of redundancy can be necessary in many cases, but needless redundancy makes comprehension difficult. A typical example of needless redundancy is naming an annual figure twelve times in a chart with twelve monthly values.

6.3.1

Avoid redundant terms such as sum, total, and overall

There is no difference between "Sales in Germany" and "Total Sales in Germany". Total lines in tables are more easily understood when they contain terms such as "Product Group B" or "Europe" instead of “sum” and “total.”

6.3.2

Avoid redundant text: sentences, words, and characters

Omitting redundant texts usually increases the degree of legibility. 

6.3.3

Avoid redundant axis labels

Redundant axis labels, such as Jan'2009; Feb'2009; Mar'2009 etc., are much more difficult to read than axis labels using Jan; Feb; Mar – with 2009 in a second line.