Matplotlib Tick Spacing - Time Series Mechanics

Check the Ticks

Start with four values: 1, 3, 5, and 7. Use evenly spaced tick labels on the value axis: 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. The tick labels guide reading. They are not extra data points.

A tiny readability step: choose evenly spaced tick labels before reading plotted values.

highlighted = computed this step

Start with plotted values

Start with 4 pinned values.

\text{pinned values}

Choose readable ticks

Choose evenly spaced tick labels for the value axis.

\text{readable ticks}

Read against the ticks

Draw the dots after the tick spacing is chosen.

\text{dots with ticks}

Keep ticks separate from data

Tick labels guide reading; they are not extra data points.

\text{ticks guide reading}