by percentage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by percentage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a quantity or amount expressed in terms of a proportion of a whole. For example, "Home prices have increased by 8 percent this year" or "The number of tourists has decreased by 5 percentage points compared to last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Only Japan, Italy and France were worse by percentage.

Independent

But by percentage of its economy, China makes the United States look profligate.

The New York Times

G. Class rank, expressed as a fraction and by percentage, if the school calculates it.

The New York Times

Still, because Democrats appropriate delegates by percentage, the tally might have an impact.

The New York Times

The way that Spotify works is that the money is divided up by percentage of total streams.

The Guardian - Tech

The most recent decline is the biggest by percentage since at least November 2000, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The New York Times

By percentage of employees, it is larger than cutbacks announced recently by Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca.

The New York Times

By percentage, more than twice as many Finns as Americans scored in the top two.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The sucker-punched McCain lost all three states by percentages in the double digits.

The New York Times

Non-continuous variables were described by percentages.

European Journal of Neurology

Acceptance of and willingness to pay were represented by percentages.

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by percentage", ensure it clearly indicates the base or reference point from which the percentage is calculated to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify whether the increase is "by percentage of revenue" or "by percentage of last year's sales".

Common error

Avoid confusing percentage changes with percentage point changes. A statement such as "increased by 10%" means the original value increased by 10 percent of itself, while "increased by 10 percentage points" means the value increased by 10 absolute percentage units. For example, moving from 50% to 60% is a 10 percentage point increase, but a 20% increase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by percentage" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, specifying how a quantity, change, or distribution is expressed or measured. It indicates that the measurement is made using percentages, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by percentage" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed prepositional phrase used to express a proportion or relative amount. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in scientific and news media, it serves to quantify and compare data effectively. To avoid ambiguity, remember to clarify the base or reference point of the percentage. Distinguish between percentage changes and percentage point changes to ensure accurate communication. Understanding these nuances will enhance clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expressed as a percentage

This signifies that data or results are converted into or shown as a percentage.

on a percentage basis

This alternative emphasizes that the assessment or calculation is based on percentages.

in terms of percentage

This phrase emphasizes the focus on percentage as the unit of measurement.

in percentage terms

This alternative emphasizes that the calculation or comparison is based on percentages.

based on percentage

Highlights that a calculation or decision relies on percentage values.

percentagewise

A concise way of saying something is being considered from the perspective of percentages.

using percentages

Emphasizes the employment of percentages in an analysis or representation.

as a percentage of

This phrase specifies that the amount is being considered in relation to a whole.

proportionally

This emphasizes the relative amount in comparison to something else.

in relative terms

This alternative highlights that the amount is being considered in comparison to something else.

FAQs

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

Use "by percentage" to describe a change, proportion, or measurement relative to a whole. For example, "Sales increased "by percentage" compared to last year" or "The allocation was determined "by percentage" of need".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "by percentage"?

Alternatives include "in percentage terms", "as a percentage of", or "proportionally", depending on the specific context. These options provide different shades of meaning while still conveying a relative amount.

What's the difference between "by percentage" and "by percentage points"?

"By percentage" refers to the relative change, while "by percentage points" refers to the absolute difference between two percentages. Confusing them can lead to misinterpretations of data. For example, if something increases from 10% to 15%, it has increased by 5 percentage points, which is a 50% increase.

Is it ever incorrect to use "by percentage"?

It's generally correct, but ensure clarity. Always specify what the percentage is relative to. Saying "profits increased "by percentage"" is vague; it should be "profits increased "by percentage" of revenue" or similar.