Definition
Timeline
A timeline is a line that places events or times from earlier to later; a scaled timeline also shows duration by distance.
View exact chart data
| Minutes | Time |
|---|---|
| 0 | 9:35 |
| 5 | 9:40 |
| 10 | 9:45 |
| 15 | 9:50 |
| 20 | 9:55 |
| 25 | 10:00 |
What it means
Read a timeline from earlier to later. Each mark tells when something happens. First check whether the line has a scale. If equal gaps stand for equal amounts of time, you can count the gaps to find how long something lasted. If there is no scale, the line may show only the order of events.
Remember it
Follow the line from earlier to later; trust the gaps only when a scale explains them.
Example
A scaled timeline starts at 9:35 and ends at 10:00. It has five equal gaps, and each gap means 5 minutes. Counting 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 gives 25 minutes, so the elapsed time is 25 minutes.
Watch for
An ordered list of events is not automatically a scaled timeline, and unequal drawing gaps do not prove unequal durations unless a scale says they do.
Common mix-up
Chronological order tells what comes first. Proportional spacing tells how much time passes. A timeline can show the first without showing the second.
Exact meaning
A timeline is a linear representation that places events or time points in chronological order. When the timeline is scaled, equal lengths represent equal durations, so distances between marks can be used to compare or calculate elapsed time. An unscaled timeline preserves order but not necessarily duration.