AP Style Percent

One word. It takes a singular verb when standing alone or when a singular word follows an “of” construction. For example,

  • The professor said 60 percent was a failing grade.
  • He said 70 percent of the membership was there.

It takes a plural verb when a plural word follows an “of” construction. For example,

  • He said 50 percent of the members were there.

Use figures for percent and percentages. For example,

  • 5 percent
  • 2.5 percent (use decimal points, not fractions)
  • 10 percent
  • 4 percentage points

For a range, “12 to 15 percent,” or “between 12 and 15 percent.”

For amounts less than 1 percent, precede the decimal with a zero. For example,

  • Nationwide inflation rose 0.7 percent last year.

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