Dec 12 2007
% or Percent?
To those who take pride in getting the written word right, using a “%” in a sentence is as vulgar as spitting on the floor. The weird little mark may be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to lists and tables, but in sentences and paragraphs it is taboo. Yes, many intelligent people use the “%” in sentences. But a lot of smart people also stick used chewing gum behind their ears for quick retrieval. That doesn’t make it right.
WRONG: At least 3% of Americans stick gum behind their ears.
RIGHT: At least 3 percent of Americans stick gum behind their ears.
A few more rules to remember when dealing with percentages in sentences:
- Use the numeral form of a number with “percent” – even if the number is under 10. (We use only 7 percent of our brains.)
- Exception: spell out the number preceding “percent” if it begins a sentence. (Thirteen percent of our students are failing.)
- Use decimals rather than fractions with “percent.” (We pay 9.5 percent interest.)
- Repeat “percent” with each figure. (The company has a 5 percent to 15 percent turnover rate.)
