Scatterplots with a linear pattern have points that seem to generally fall along a line while nonlinear patterns seem to follow along some curve. Whatever the pattern is, we use this to describe the association between the variables.

How do you know if a scatter plot is linear?

This means that the points on the scatterplot closely resemble a straight line. A relationship is linear if one variable increases by approximately the same rate as the other variables changes by one unit.

Why does my scatter plot look like a line?

In a scatterplot, a dot represents a single data point. With several data points graphed, a visual distribution of the data can be seen. ... The closer the data points come to forming a straight line when plotted, the higher the correlation between the two variables, or the stronger the relationship.