percents

USAGE SUMMARY

'percents' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use 'percents' when you want to refer to a percentage or a number as a proportion of a whole. For example, "The sales have increased by 20 percents over the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Payment-card fraud is rising, but only in proportion with overall card use, says FICO, a fraud-management firm: crooked shop staff affect "percents of a percent" of transactions.None of this justifies complacency.

The Economist

His followers weakened and were bribed back to work with a ten percents raise.

The New Yorker

For all the complexities and nuances of the contract that the transit workers narrowly rejected yesterday - percents and raises and insurance increases and pension contributions - the mathematics of the vote seemed to boil down to one simple number: age.

The New York Times

For instance, the average 30-year rate over the last 10 years is 7.3percentt, and the lowest rate in the 1990's was 6.83 percents, according to HSH Associates, a mortgage research firm based in Pompton Plains, N.J. "That doesn't make it any less painful perhaps, but some perspective is necessary," said Keith Gumbinger, a vice president of HSH Associates.

The New York Times

The techs were up by gazillions of percents.

The New York Times

Coupons that offer cents off — or percents off — the price of things like groceries, clothing and restaurant meals are particularly popular when consumers need to stretch their dollars.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Three percent is not feasible," Socialist leader Emile Roemer said in parliament on Tuesday.

The Guardian - Business

Abbott's own target, which could not be achieved under his "direct action" policy, is a five percent reduction by 2020.

The Guardian

Take San Francisco, population 850,00, which is near the very top for percent of people who believe in climate change, according to a pollster I spoke to recently.

The Guardian - Opinion

Pyrolysis of forest residues from 200 hectares of timberland, pyrolysis of crop residues from 120 million hectares of farmland, and pyrolysis of fast-growing vegetation from another 30 million hectares of idle cropland could each sequester about ten percent of U.S. annual fossil-fuel emissions.

The Guardian

In a letter to the Wall Street Journal, Perkins wrote: I would call attention to the parallels of fascist Nazi Germany to its war on its "one percent," namely its Jews, to the progressive war on the American 1%, namely the "rich".

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about statistical data, ensure that you clearly define what the "percents" are referring to. Providing context is crucial for accurate interpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "percents" without specifying the base. For example, instead of saying "Sales increased by 10 percents", specify "Sales increased by 10 percents compared to last quarter".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "percents" is as a plural noun. It typically refers to multiple instances of percentages or an unspecified range of percentages. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "percents" is a grammatically sound plural noun used to denote multiple percentages or a range of percentages. It is most commonly found in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific writings, as highlighted by Ludwig. While not as frequent as its singular counterpart "percent", understanding its proper usage is crucial for clear and accurate communication. Ensure that the context and base are clearly defined when using "percents" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

percentages

This alternative is a synonym and refers to the same concept of proportional representation.

proportions

This alternative shifts the focus to the comparative relationship between quantities.

rates

This alternative emphasizes the ratio or frequency at which something occurs.

fractions

This alternative represents parts of a whole, similar to percents, but in a different numerical format.

ratios

This alternative expresses the relative size of two or more values.

shares

This alternative refers to portions or divisions of a whole.

portions

This alternative describes a part of a whole, similar to a percentage.

increments

This alternative highlights the gradual increases or additions, often expressed as a percentage.

declines

This alternative highlights the gradual decrease, often expressed as a percentage.

numerical data

This alternative is more general, encompassing any data represented by numbers, including percents.

FAQs

How do I properly use "percents" in a sentence?

Use "percents" to refer to multiple percentages or instances where you're talking about a proportion out of 100. For example, "The study showed that a significant number of "percentages" of students preferred online learning".

What are some alternatives to using the word "percents"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "percentages", "proportions", or "rates". The best choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "percents" in formal writing?

Yes, it's grammatically correct to use "percents", especially when referring to multiple instances of percentages. Ensure your usage is clear and contextually appropriate for formal writing.

What's the difference between "percent" and "percents"?

"Percent" is typically used with a singular number (e.g., "10 percent"), while "percents" is used when referring to multiple or unspecified percentages (e.g., "a few percents", or "ranges of percents").