Percent meaning in English

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Definition

(100) percent: (100) %, out of one hundred nounadjectiveadverb
Percent can take EITHER a singular OR a plural verb depending on the context. Example: "80 percent of the people are happy" OR "80 percent of the group is happy".
I got 100 percent on my lesson today; I got all the questions right!
a percentage: an amount or fraction of something, expressed as a number out of 100 noun

Examples

  • "Currently the unemployment rate is at 7.2 percent, which is the highest it has been since 1992."
  • "I estimate my daily efficiency will improve by 2.65 percent."
  • "Margin of error around ten percent."
  • "Bruno : Okay Leonard, when you talk about "the people", and "the workers", and your "comrades", you do realize that union members make up just 1.3 percent of the staff at Delavigne?"
  • "Miss Bümbüm will receive a percentage of the sales of the products she endorses, which we anticipate will be quite significant."
  • "I estimate that you have decreased my daily efficiency by 59.75 percent and increased my chance of a brain trauma by 63.26 percent!"
  • "Bruno : Your Website advertises Delavigne perfumes at 20% percent below the list price, correct?"
  • "Quentin : Mr. Jones, the trial version is one hundred percent free!"
  • "In the last 25 years, our GDP has grown nearly 10 percent each year and exports nearly 30 percent."
  • "This is really a minor procedure with about a ninety percent success rate."
  • "Icarus usually comes along and calms them down with percentages and ratios."
  • "I'm 100 percent putting the phone down."
  • "Kevin : Ninety percent?"
  • "Just for you a 30 percent discount on all units of Liquid Dynamite!"
  • "While I'm not sure what percentage of profits we represent to your corporation, I have to believe we count for something."
  • "You predicted growth of nearly 3 percent over last year's second quarter earnings, Mr. Delavigne!"
  • "Authorities speculated that the group's chance for survival was "slim to none", then specified that it was closer to .006 percent."
  • "Jean : Yes, well, to be honnete, only twenty percent is for me."
Exercise 1
I estimate by doing this Gymglish lesson you have improved your daily efficiency by 12.56% !

But how do you say 12.56%?

I estimate by doing this Gymglish lesson you have improved your daily efficiency by 12.56% !

But how do you say 12.56%?

Twelve point five six percent
Twelve point five six percent: This is correct. Note that when we say decimals in English we always pronounce each figure after the decimal point. For example, "5.491%" is pronounced "five point four nine one percent". It's the law!
Twelve point five six procent: This is incorrect. It's mostly good but what does "procent" mean? "Procent" is not an English word!
Twelve point fifty-six pourcent: This is incorrect. Unfortunately "pourcent" doesn't exist in English - not even in Jersey! Careful with the "fifty-six", too. In English we always pronounce each figure after the decimal point - this should be "five six".
Twelve point fifty-six forcent: "Forcent"? Say what? This is how 12.56% sounds after drinking a bottle of whisky! I can assure you this wouldn't be well received (or understood!) in a board meeting. Careful with the "fifty-six", too. In English we always pronounce each figure after the decimal point - this should be "five six".
Twelve point fifty-six percent: Close, but not correct! In English we always pronounce each figure after the decimal point therefore it should be pronounced "five six" not "fifty-six".

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