How to use a variable to specify column name in ggplot

Question

I have a ggplot command

ggplot( rates.by.groups, aes(x=name, y=rate, colour=majr, group=majr) )

inside a function. But I would like to be a

Answer 1

Here's an extremely simple way!

Do these two things:

1. Turn the column name into a symbol with sym()
2. Add !! when you use it

Minimal Reproducible Example:

my_col <- sym("Petal.Length")

iris %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = Sepal.Length, y = !!my_col)) +
  geom_point()