a higher percentage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a higher percentage' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to the percentage of anything that is greater than another. For example: "A higher percentage of students from this school are accepted into college than from other schools in the district."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Four other firms had a higher percentage.

The New York Times

A higher percentage mistakenly believed it was a net donor.

The Guardian

Rafalski's game-winning goal was a higher percentage shot.

The New York Times - Sports

She said that a higher percentage of employers misclassified workers upstate than downstate, and a higher percentage of employees worked off the books downstate.

The New York Times

Nope, it went up by a higher percentage rate: 35%.

The Guardian - Money

The Confederate Army had a higher percentage of farm boys.

The New York Times - Science

So a higher percentage of 3-year-old funds than 10-year-olds earn five stars.

The New York Times

Each year produced a higher percentage of people failing the test than the previous year.

The New York Times

Businesses with a higher percentage of unfaithful customers would dearly like to know.

The New York Times

But guns were used in a higher percentage of the deaths that did occur.

The New York Times

Mississippi has a higher percentage of black residents than any other state, at almost 40%.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing percentages, always specify the base or total from which the percentage is calculated to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of just saying "A higher percentage of students passed," specify "A higher percentage of students in advanced classes passed compared to those in standard classes."

Common error

Be cautious about drawing strong conclusions from small differences in percentages, especially with small sample sizes. A slightly "higher percentage" might not be statistically significant and could be due to chance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a higher percentage" functions as a comparative adjective phrase modifying an implied noun. It indicates that one quantity or proportion is greater than another. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a higher percentage" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed comparative phrase used to indicate that one proportion is greater than another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, including news reporting, scientific writing, and general communication. When using this phrase, clarity is key: always specify the base values being compared to avoid ambiguity. While the phrase is common, be mindful of the sample size and potential statistical significance when interpreting the results. The most common authoritative sources are The New York Times, The Guardian, and Huffington Post.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a greater proportion

Replaces "percentage" with "proportion", emphasizing the relative amount.

a larger fraction

Substitutes "percentage" with "fraction", indicating a part of a whole.

a bigger share

Uses "share" instead of "percentage", suggesting a part or portion of something.

a more significant portion

Emphasizes the importance of the portion being compared.

a superior ratio

Replaces "percentage" with "ratio", focusing on the quantitative relation.

a higher incidence

Uses "incidence" when referring to the frequency of an event or occurrence.

an increased rate

Focuses on the rate of change or occurrence, rather than the percentage.

a greater frequency

Highlights how often something happens in comparison to something else.

a more elevated level

Indicates a higher degree or extent of something.

a steeper climb

Implies a more significant increase or rise in something being measured.

FAQs

How can I use "a higher percentage" in a sentence?

You can use "a higher percentage" to compare proportions between two groups or time periods. For example, "A higher percentage of adults own smartphones now than they did ten years ago".

What phrases are similar to "a higher percentage"?

Similar phrases include "a greater proportion", "a larger fraction", or "a bigger share". The choice depends on the specific context and what aspect you want to emphasize.

Is it always meaningful when reporting "a higher percentage"?

Not necessarily. A "higher percentage" may not be significant if the sample size is small or if the difference is minimal. Consider statistical significance to ensure the difference isn't due to random chance.

What is the difference between "a higher percentage" and "a higher rate"?

"A higher percentage" refers to a proportion out of 100, while "a higher rate" refers to the frequency of an event per unit of time or population. They are often interchangeable, but "rate" implies a dynamic process over time or across a population.