Words / A2

p-uh-SENT/pə ˈsent/

Per cent means one part in every hundred (British: two words): 50 per cent, per cent of the class, a ten per cent discount. American English often writes percent as one word. Percentage is the noun for the amount (a high percentage). Symbol: %. Do not write per cent when you mean person, or scent.

Meaning

One part in every hundred (British spelling: two words).

Examples

• “Thirty per cent of the seats were empty.”
• “Twenty per cent of the tickets are still available.”
• “Add a ten per cent tip if the service was good.”

Good to know

50 per cent (British two words). US: percent. Related noun: percentage. Mix-up: person.

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