percentages

Spell out “percent” as one word; avoid the use of the % symbol except in charts or in web or marketing usages where space is at a premium: NIH research funding grew by more than 13 percent last year. “Percent” takes a singular verb when standing alone or when a singular word follows an “of” construction: The professor said 60 percent was a failing grade. It takes a plural verb when a plural word follows an “of” construction: He said 50 percent of the members were there.

All numbers, even those less than 10, are numerals when used with the word percent: The increase was more than 5 percent. Use the word “percent” with every citation of a percentage: 40 percent to 50 percent, not 40-50 percent.

For amounts less than 1 percent, precede the decimal with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.6 percent.