A running total shows what has built up. A rate shows how fast it changes. With...

https://papa-wiki.win/index.php/How_Do_I_Spot_When_Someone_Is_Treating_Totals_and_Rates_as_Interchangeable%3F

A running total shows what has built up. A rate shows how fast it changes. With parcel counts and rainfall, this article explains units and time windows, like parcels per hour or rain in a day, so you can read a chart without mixing the two.