---
title: "Jittered dot plots"
slug: "jittered-dot-plots"
updated: 2025-09-10T18:51:35Z
published: 2025-09-10T18:51:35Z
canonical: "userguide.dataclassroom.com/jittered-dot-plots"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://userguide.dataclassroom.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Jittered dot plots

When dealing with only one numeric variable, it can be hard to see all your datapoints:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/62f8f41e-e041-42c4-b9bc-8ae1eb45d064/Images/Documentation/Untitled%20drawing-5.png)

By default, DataClassroom will display it as a **jittered dot plot,** spreading your data at random along the un-numbered axis.

This way you can better view **how your data is distributed.**

### **Change the Jitter:**

Depending on how many data points you have, and how big you make them (you can adjust the size under the **Appearance** menu) you might want more or less jitter, so you can control this using the **Set the jitter** control on the right of the graph:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/62f8f41e-e041-42c4-b9bc-8ae1eb45d064/Images/Documentation/image-1672656383257.png)

### 

### **Jitter with more than one value of a Categorical Variable :**

![](https://cdn.document360.io/62f8f41e-e041-42c4-b9bc-8ae1eb45d064/Images/Documentation/Untitled%20drawing-6.png)

Adding a **categorical variable on X** still allows you to work with jitter, should you choose. This is because there is no numeric value associated with moving a datapoint horizontally along the X axis. However, if you add another **numeric variable**, it locks the datapoint into a specific spot on the X axis and jitter is no longer available.

### 

### **Too many points?**

If you have **so many data points** that your dot plot really doesn't help you see the distribution, try a **Histogram** instead. The histogram can be found under [graphs made with rectangles.](https://userguide.dataclassroom.com/docs/graph-types) This can give another view of the distribution:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/62f8f41e-e041-42c4-b9bc-8ae1eb45d064/Images/Documentation/image-1672656560695.png)