How to plot a scatter graph with just a few dots around a fitted line?

[Tianzhu Nie]

Hi just wondering how to plot a scatter graph with just a few dots around a fitted line like that in the attachment? I have explored the options of "scatter" but it seems to be not the right command. Thanks a lot! plot.docx

[Nick Cox]

No Word (or Excel) attachments please. We explain that, and why we ask, and what to do instead at https://www.statalist.org/forums/help#stata

Graphics can be posted here as .png which makes them immediately visible without people having to fire up third-party software they may not even have. What's worse, Word documents can spread malware.

[Gracia Brueckmann]

While I also did not want to open the attachment, I think this minimal example explains it quite well.

sysuse auto
twoway scatter mpg weight || lfit mpg weight

But now assume these are too much points for you.

I would just plot a random subset, e.g. around 20% of the data. There are many ways for doing this, the short way I usually would do this:

gen identifier = uniform()
tab identifier if identifier < .2

twoway lfit mpg weight ||  scatter mpg weight if identifier <.2

Hope that helps.


Edit: I mean with the if-condition you could also decide to just plot those specific points that you want ...

[Nick Cox]

I can't speak for whether #2 answers #1. I know that as a reader, reviewer, listener I would be very puzzled by a graph that capriciously shows some of the data but not all, without a separate rationale.

Other choices include one or more of

smaller marker symbols

less obtrusive marker symbols

fainter colours for markers.

[Tianzhu Nie]

Thanks a lot! Sorry for the inconsideration. It turns out that "binscatter'" will do. Thanks again!