# Gridlines for multiple plots when displayed by Show

### Question

Suppose that I am using Show to display several plots — for example, two plots and three contourplots.

Is there a nice way to add gridlines?

### Elaboration

I realize I can just stick the gridlines into the first of the plot expressions, but sometimes when I'm changing functions around that gets confusing.

I thought Epilog would be a nice way to do this, but I don't think Gridlines works on the righthand side of an Epilog option.?

Perhaps the best option would be something like making a function that does exactly what I want. That is, a function that takes the plots I want to display and the gridlines I want as inputs and then combines them.

If it's the latter, then I don't need to see a solution — that is, it would be both above my current level and more than I need for now.

I am just curious if there is a simple, built-in way (other than putting gridlines into the first of the plot expressions)

Sorry for no minimal working example; I feel like the question can be understood/addressed without one.

• why not Show[plot1,plot2, ..., plotn, GridLines->{{x1,x2,..., xk},{y1,y2,...,ym}}] (where the lists {x1,x2,..., xk} and {y1,y2,...,ym} specify the positions of horizontal and vertical gridlines, respectively)? – kglr Jan 15 at 1:35
• Thank you for the helpful comment. I had an "Epilog" in my show and I guess I was putting gridlines in the epilog. Whoops. – user106860 Jan 15 at 19:52

You can add GridLines, or any other Graphics options, directly to Show:

Show[
plot1,
plot2,
GridLines -> ...
]

1. you can simply say GridLines->Automatic in the options in Show
2. I always have grid lines in my plots, I feel any plot is incomplete without those wonderfully thin gridlines. So I have

SetOptions[#, GridLines -> Automatic] & /@ {Plot, ListPlot, ListLinePlot, PolarPlot, AudioPlot, BoxWhiskerChart, DistributionChart,DateListPlot,Histogram,ParametricPlot, ComplexListPlot,BarChart,DateHistogram,StreamPlot,VectorPlot};

in my init.m anyway, and then you don't have the problem in the first place.