A missing observation and a genuine zero are different facts. Decide what each source value means before changing the chart to remove gaps or unwanted points.
Inspect the plotted source cells
Check whether an apparent blank is an empty cell, text, a formula returning an empty string, or a numeric zero. Review the chart’s actual data range and any included subtotal or unused rows.
Do not replace every blank with zero simply to make the chart continuous. That can turn uncollected data into an apparently measured absence of activity.
Choose a chart-specific treatment
Inspect the controls offered for the selected chart type. Different chart types and source representations can treat gaps differently, so test the actual result rather than assuming one universal blank-cell behavior.
Use a reviewed helper range when the presentation needs a clearly defined subset. Preserve the raw measurements and document any excluded observations or interpolated treatment.
Verify the message conveyed
Test a short series containing a positive value, a true zero, and a missing observation. Check whether the chart distinguishes them as intended. Inspect the legend, range boundaries, and axis scale as well.
If points are connected across missing periods, explain that the connecting line does not establish observations inside the gap. Avoid deleting source rows purely to improve the shape of the graph. Compare exported or embedded output with the chart in Sheets, and include the reporting population and period. A cleaner picture should still communicate the original evidence and its missing data, rather than silently replacing uncertainty with a stronger claim.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.