• The vertical axis of a graph is known as the y-axis (or ordinate) of the graph.
• The horizontal axis of a graph is known as the x-axis (or abscissa) of the graph.

If you want to draw a good graph follow the cult of Tufte:

• Don't create false impressions of what the data actually show (likewise, don't hide effects) by scaling the y-axis in some weird way.
• Abolish chartjunk: Don't use patterns, 3-D effects, shadows, pictures of spleens, photos of your Uncle Fred or anything else.
• Avoid excess ink: This is a bit radical, but if you don't need the axes, then get rid of them.