percentage
A percentage is a rate, number, or amount in each hundred, used to express a proportion or ratio relative to a whole. In academic contexts, it specifically refers to the quantitative measurement of a subset compared to the total population or data set.
Examples
3 of 5What percentage of your monthly income do you spend on rent?
What portion of your monthly earnings is dedicated to housing costs?
The committee noted that a significant percentage of the budget remains unallocated.
The formal group observed that a large portion of the funds has not been assigned to projects yet.
A massive percentage of my day is just spent answering emails.
A huge part of my working hours is consumed by replying to electronic messages.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'cent'—just like there are 100 cents in a dollar or 100 years in a century, a percentage is always 'per cent' (per hundred).
Quick Quiz
The report indicates that a significant ______ of the forest has been affected by the recent fires.
Correct!
The correct answer is: percentage
Examples
What percentage of your monthly income do you spend on rent?
everydayWhat portion of your monthly earnings is dedicated to housing costs?
The committee noted that a significant percentage of the budget remains unallocated.
formalThe formal group observed that a large portion of the funds has not been assigned to projects yet.
A massive percentage of my day is just spent answering emails.
informalA huge part of my working hours is consumed by replying to electronic messages.
The longitudinal study tracks the percentage of participants who developed immunity over five years.
academicThe long-term research monitors the ratio of subjects who gained resistance within a five-year period.
To improve our margins, we must reduce the percentage of defective units in the production line.
businessTo increase profits, we need to lower the ratio of faulty products during manufacturing.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
percentage point
the unit for the arithmetic difference of two percentages
a large percentage of
most of or a great deal of something
only a small percentage
a very limited number or amount within a group
Often Confused With
Percent is used with a specific number (e.g., 10 percent), while percentage is used when the specific number is not mentioned (e.g., a high percentage).
Usage Notes
When 'percentage' is followed by 'of' and a plural noun, the verb is usually plural (e.g., 'A percentage of the students were absent'). When used alone or with a singular noun, it takes a singular verb.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say '10 percentage' instead of '10 percent.' Remember that 'percent' follows the numeral, while 'percentage' follows an adjective like 'small' or 'large'.
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'cent'—just like there are 100 cents in a dollar or 100 years in a century, a percentage is always 'per cent' (per hundred).
Word Origin
From the Latin 'per centum', meaning 'by the hundred', combined with the English suffix '-age' indicating a rate or relationship.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western educational and professional systems, performance and probability are almost exclusively communicated through percentages to imply scientific precision.
Quick Quiz
The report indicates that a significant ______ of the forest has been affected by the recent fires.
Correct!
The correct answer is: percentage
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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