percentage of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "percentage of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a proportion or fraction of something. For example: "According to the study, 30% of men reported more stress than women."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

small percentage of sales.

Harvard University

A percentage of assets?

The New York Times

"We get no percentage of any kind.

The New Yorker

A percentage of the rest are repeats.

The New Yorker

Breakdown of the percentage of the undecided.

The New Yorker

What percentage of your buyers are foreigners?

The New York Times

What percentage of my speech is meaningful?

The New York Times

Bees pollinate a large percentage of crops.

Independent

gets a percentage of the gross.

The New Yorker

Yes, whatever the percentage of the makeup.

The New York Times

Again, with an unknown percentage of profit.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about statistical data, always specify the base population or context for the "percentage of" you are describing to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "a high percentage of students failed", specify "a high percentage of students in the control group failed".

Common error

Avoid assuming the reader understands the base for the percentage. Clearly state what the percentage is calculated from. For example, don't just say "10% improved"; instead, specify "10% of patients improved after the treatment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "percentage of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a proportion or share of something. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

8%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "percentage of" is a grammatically sound and exceedingly common way to express a proportion or share within a larger context. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is widely accepted and utilized. With numerous examples spanning across "News & Media", "Science", and "Formal & Business" domains, its versatility is evident. To ensure clarity, especially in formal writing, always specify the total when using "percentage of". While alternatives like "proportion of" or "share of" exist, "percentage of" remains a direct and easily understood choice for conveying quantitative information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proportion of

Focuses on the relative size or extent of something within a whole, similar to "percentage of" but can be used more broadly.

fraction of

Emphasizes the part-to-whole relationship, often used when the exact numerical value is less important than the concept of a portion.

share of

Highlights the allocation or contribution of something within a larger context, implying a distribution or division.

portion of

Refers to a specific amount or segment of something, often used in contexts where the amount is tangible or measurable.

segment of

Implies a distinct and identifiable part of a larger entity, often used when discussing demographics or market analysis.

ratio of

Indicates the quantitative relationship between two amounts or quantities, often used in scientific or mathematical contexts.

rate of

Describes the frequency or speed at which something occurs relative to a specific unit, often used in statistical analysis.

incidence of

Focuses on the occurrence or prevalence of something, particularly in the context of diseases or events.

level of

Refers to the degree or intensity of something, often used when discussing abstract qualities or conditions.

extent of

Highlights the scope or range of something, often used when discussing abstract concepts or geographical areas.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "percentage of" in a sentence?

Use "percentage of" to indicate a proportion relative to a whole. For example, "30% of the students" or "the percentage of sales". Ensure the noun following "of" is the total from which the percentage is derived.

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

Alternatives include "proportion of", "fraction of", or "share of". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a percentage of people is" or "a percentage of people are"?

When using "a percentage of", the verb form depends on whether you are emphasizing the single percentage or the people. If you are emphasizing the percentage, use "is"; if you are emphasizing the people, use "are". However, "are" is generally preferred, especially in American English: "A large percentage of people are affected by this issue".

How does the meaning of "percentage of" differ from "percent of"?

"Percentage of" refers to a general proportion, while "percent of" typically refers to a specific numerical value. While they are often used interchangeably, "percentage of" is more common when referring to a concept or idea rather than a strict calculation.