a lower percentage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lower percentage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing quantities or proportions, indicating that one percentage is less than another. Example: "The new policy resulted in a lower percentage of errors in the final report."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The clubs had wanted a lower percentage as the threshold.

The New York Times - Sports

(We rejected a lower percentage of white applicants).

The New York Times

A lower percentage -- 40percentt -- say he is being truthful.

The Washington Post

However, he has completed a lower percentage of his passes this season (57.1percentt) — Jones also has completed a lower percentage of his passes this season (55.5percentt).

The Washington Post

The only group with a lower percentage passing the reading test was eighth graders.

The New York Times

(Government statistics suggest a lower percentage but are widely contested by activists).

The New York Times - Magazine

Irradiated fish produced fewer eggs per day (p=0.03); had a lower percentage of viable eggs (p=0.04), and produced a lower percentage of hatchlings (p=0.05).

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

As recently as 2010, philosophy had a lower percentage of women doctorates than math, chemistry and economics.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Consequently, they offered the players significantly more from this "bucket" in return for a lower percentage of league revenue overall.

Harvard University

This is a lower percentage than that reported by other investigators.

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

The transgenic mosquitoes produced fewer eggs, had higher rates of infertility and had a lower percentage of eggs reaching adulthood.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two or more groups or categories, use "a lower percentage" to clearly indicate that one group has a smaller proportion relative to the others. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "less percentage". The correct phrasing is "a lower percentage" because "percentage" refers to a specific number or proportion, making it countable in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lower percentage" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that a particular proportion is less than another. Ludwig examples confirm its use in comparing statistical data and proportions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lower percentage" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate a smaller proportion or rate. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various domains. It is particularly common in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, remember to avoid the error of using "less percentage" and consider alternative phrases such as "a smaller proportion" or "a reduced rate" for variety. It is useful in any context where you need to make a direct comparison in magnitude between one rate and another.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller proportion

Replaces "percentage" with "proportion", focusing on the comparative amount rather than a specific numerical representation.

a reduced rate

Substitutes "percentage" with "rate", highlighting the decreased frequency or speed of something.

a diminished fraction

Emphasizes the reduced size of a part relative to the whole, using "fraction" instead of "percentage".

a slighter amount

Focuses on the quantity being less, using "amount" to convey a reduced quantity.

a decreased share

Replaces "percentage" with "share", highlighting a smaller portion of the total.

a lesser quantity

Highlights that the amount is smaller, using "quantity" to express a reduced numerical value.

a downward trend

Shifts the focus to the change over time, implying a decreasing percentage through the term "trend".

a weaker presence

Indicates a reduced impact or influence, which can indirectly relate to a lower percentage in specific contexts.

a lighter concentration

Used when referring to the density or concentration of something, implying a lower percentage of that substance.

a smaller incidence

Highlights the lower frequency of occurrence, often used in statistical or medical contexts.

FAQs

How do I use "a lower percentage" in a sentence?

Use "a lower percentage" when you want to express that one group or category has a smaller proportion relative to another. For example, "A lower percentage of students passed the test this year compared to last year".

What's the difference between "a lower percentage" and "a smaller proportion"?

While both phrases are similar, "a lower percentage" is more specific and often refers to a numerical value, while "a smaller proportion" is a more general term referring to a reduced fraction of the whole.

Which is correct, "lower percentage" or "less percentage"?

"A lower percentage" is correct. "Percentage" is a countable noun in this context, so "lower" is the appropriate comparative adjective to use instead of "less".

What can I say instead of "a lower percentage" to convey the same meaning?

You can use alternatives like "a smaller proportion", "a reduced rate", or "a diminished fraction" depending on the specific context.