Percentages refer to a portion or a fraction of a whole. A percentage is an amount that is expressed as a certain portion of 100 parts. The symbol for percent is %.
Percentages in Written FormPercentages in written form use cardinal numbers. Percentages in numerical form use the number and the % symbol.
- 10% = ten percent
- 25% = twenty-five percent
- 75% = seventy-five percent
- 100% = one hundred percent
Percentage as a Collective NounThe word "percentage" is a collective noun. A collective noun indicates a group of people. Depending on the noun used with "percentage", it will determine if you use a singular or plural verb form.
Correct: What percentage of students are going to college?
Incorrect: What percentage of students is going to college?
Correct: Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce these days.
Incorrect: Fifty percent of marriages ends in divorce these days.
Correct: Eighty percent of the house was damaged by the fire.
Incorrect: Eighty percent of the house were damaged by the fire.
Percentage Used Later in a SentenceIf "percentage" comes later in the sentence, the verb will depend on the noun it is referring to.
- John is donating one hundred percent of his profits to charity.
- Susan is only working fifty percent of the time.
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
1) Only sixty percent of the students at this school __________ graduating.
a. is
b. are
2) Thirty percent of the children __________ hot dogs.
a. like
b. likes
3) Bill __________ doing ninety percent of the work while his partner is fooling around.
a. is
b. are
4) Candace __________ being outdoors one hundred percent of the time.
a. enjoy
b. enjoys
5) The computer only __________ fifty percent of the time.
a. work
b. works
6) Only sixty-five percent of the registered voters __________ in this county.
a. vote
b. votes
Directions: Write in the number.
1) seven percent
_____ %
2) fifteen percent
_____ %
3) twenty-eight percent
_____ %
4) forty-one percent
_____ %
5) fifty-five percent
_____ %
6) seventy-nine percent
_____ %
7) eighty-eight percent
_____ %
8) ninety-nine percent
_____ %
9) one hundred and fifty percent
_____ %
10) one hundred and twenty-five percent
_____ %
Quiz 1 Answers
1) b. are
2) a. like
3) a. is
4) b. enjoys
5) b. works
6) a. vote
Quiz 2 Answers
1) 7
2) 15
3) 28
4) 41
5) 55
6) 79
7) 88
8) 99
9) 150
10) 125
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