percentage point

USAGE SUMMARY

'percentage point' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe the difference between two percentages. For example, "The unemployment rate increased by two percentage points from 5% to 7%."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Call this 0.4 percentage point per quarter.

The Economist

Republicans had a 27 percentage point advantage.

The New York Times

Every percentage point is about $40 million.

The New York Times - Sports

A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.

The New York Times

Residential construction added 0.7 percentage point.

The New York Times

On average, partisan Senate and House preferences tracked the presidential race percentage point for percentage point.

The New York Times

Ukip eased off a single percentage point to 8%.

The Guardian

Scott eventually won reëlection by a single percentage point.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Two percentage points.

The Washington Post

500 by 4.9 percentage points.

The New York Times

He won by six percentage points.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing statistical data, use "percentage point" to clearly indicate the arithmetic difference between two percentages, avoiding ambiguity with relative percentage changes. For instance, clarify that an increase from 10% to 12% is a two "percentage point" increase, not a 2% increase.

Common error

Avoid using "percentage" and "percentage point" interchangeably. A "percentage point" is an arithmetic difference (e.g., moving from 5% to 6% is a one "percentage point" increase), while a "percentage" refers to a relative change (e.g., a 20% increase of 5% is 1%). Always specify "percentage point" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "percentage point" functions as a noun, specifically a unit of measurement. It quantifies the arithmetic difference between two percentages, ensuring clarity in statistical and numerical contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

18%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Science

13%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "percentage point" is a noun phrase used to express the arithmetic difference between two percentages. Ludwig AI validates that it's grammatically correct and commonly used in news, formal business, and academic contexts. To ensure clarity, always use "percentage point" when describing the absolute difference between percentages, distinguishing it from relative "percentage" changes. Confusing these terms is a common error, but using the correct terminology enhances the precision and credibility of your writing. This expression appears frequently in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

percent difference

This phrase emphasizes the difference in terms of percentage, omitting the word point.

percent change

This phrase highlights the alteration in percentage, offering a more dynamic sense of transformation.

increase in percentage

Focuses specifically on the upward shift in percentage values.

decrease in percentage

Focuses specifically on the downward shift in percentage values.

difference in rate

Shifts the focus from percentage to the broader concept of rate, slightly altering the numerical precision.

shift in percentage

Highlights the movement or change in percentage without specifying direction.

numerical gap in percentage

Emphasizes the numeric space or interval between two percentages.

increment in percentage

Highlights that the change is an increase and puts an emphasis on the increase itself.

reduction in percentage

Highlights that the change is a decrease and puts an emphasis on the reduction itself.

margin in percentage

Focuses on the extent or degree of difference in percentages.

FAQs

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

Use "percentage point" to describe the simple difference between two percentages. For example, "The interest rate increased by 0.5 "percentage point", from 2.0% to 2.5%."

What's the difference between "percentage" and "percentage point"?

A "percentage" is a ratio or proportion per hundred, while a "percentage point" is the arithmetic difference between two percentages. For example, increasing from 10% to 15% is a 5 "percentage point" increase, which is also a 50% increase.

What can I say instead of "percentage point" to describe a difference in rates?

You can use terms like "percent difference" or "difference in rate", though "percentage point" is more precise when dealing with the arithmetic difference between two specific percentages.

When is it appropriate to use "percentage point" instead of just saying "percent"?

Use "percentage point" when you want to avoid confusion about whether you're talking about an absolute difference or a relative change. For example, stating "The tax rate increased by 2 "percentage point"" clearly indicates an arithmetic difference, unlike saying "The tax rate increased by 2 percent", which could be misinterpreted as a relative increase.