Per Cent or Percent: Which Is Correct?

Per Cent or Percent is a common English usage question, especially when comparing American and British English. Both per cent and percent are correct and have the same basic meaning: a proportion expressed as a number out of 100. The main difference is regional spelling and editorial style.

In general:

• Percent is the usual form in American English.
• Per cent remains an established form in British English and is used in Australian government style.

For example, you can write:

The price increased by 10 percent.

Or:

The price increased by 10 per cent.

So, Per Cent or Percent is not a question of one form being correct and the other incorrect. Your choice should depend on your audience, the variety of English you are using, and any applicable style guide. Most importantly, choose one form and use it consistently throughout your writing.

Per Cent vs. Percent: What’s the Difference?

Percent and per cent have the same meaning. Both express a proportion out of 100. The difference is simply the spelling:

• percent = one word
• per cent = two words

For example:

• Twenty percent of the students passed.
• Twenty per cent of the students passed.

Both sentences communicate the same idea.

The choice depends mainly on the variety of English and the style you are following. American English generally favors percent, while per cent remains established in British English. Canadian guidance accepts both, and Australian government style uses per cent.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Percent	Per cent
Spelling	One word	Two words
Meaning	A proportion out of 100	A proportion out of 100
American English	Usual choice	Less common
British English	Also used	Established form
Australian English	Not the Australian spelling	Preferred form
Canadian English	Correct	Correct
Symbol	%	%

The % symbol represents the same percentage concept. It is a symbol rather than another spelling of the word.

Is “Per Cent” Still Correct?

Yes. Per cent is still correct and is not simply an outdated form of percent.

Current English references continue to recognize both forms. Cambridge Dictionary lists per cent alongside percent, while official Australian guidance uses per cent and the GOV.UK style guide specifically recommends it.

For example:

The company reported a 15 per cent increase in sales.

American English can express the same idea as:

The company reported a 15 percent increase in sales.

Therefore, it is better to treat percent and per cent as spelling and style variants rather than declaring one universally correct and the other incorrect.

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Percent and Per Cent in Different Varieties of English

English spelling conventions vary across regions. The preferred form of this word is one example of that variation.

American English: Percent

Percent is the normal choice in American English.

Examples include:

• The discount is 20 percent.
• About 60 percent of the group agreed.
• The company announced a 5 percent increase.
• She received a 10 percent raise.

If you are writing for US readers, percent is generally the most natural choice.

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British English: Per Cent and Percent

British English uses per cent as an established form, although percent also appears in British usage. Cambridge Dictionary recognizes both forms.

For example:

Only 40 per cent of people voted.

However, individual British organizations can set their own conventions. For example, the GOV.UK style guide recommends per cent and uses the % sign with numbers.

So, it is too broad to say that British English always requires per cent. Instead, check the style of the publication or organization you are writing for.

Canadian and Australian English

Canadian guidance recognizes both percent and per cent and recommends consistency within a document. It also notes that the two-word spelling has traditionally been more common in Canada and Britain, while the one-word form has been preferred in the United States.

Australian government style takes a clearer position: it uses per cent as the Australian spelling and does not treat percent as the Australian form. The same guidance recommends using the % symbol with numerals in text.

These differences show why there is no single spelling rule that applies to every variety of English.

How to Choose Between Percent and Per Cent

Choosing between the two forms is usually simple. Consider your audience, your style guide, and consistency.

Match Your Audience

For an American audience, use percent:

The survey found that 75 percent of participants preferred the new design.

If your publication follows a British or Australian convention that uses per cent, write:

The survey found that 75 per cent of participants preferred the new design.

For an international audience, either form can be understood. In that case, an established house style can make the decision for you.

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Follow Your Style Guide

Style guides can determine whether a publication uses:

• percent
• per cent
• %
• numerals or spelled-out numbers
• particular punctuation or formatting conventions

For example, the Australian Government Style Manual recommends the % symbol with numerals, while the GOV.UK style guide specifies per cent and also uses the % sign with numbers.

If you write for a company, university, newspaper, academic journal, or government organization, check its house style when one exists.

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Stay Consistent

Once you choose a form, use it consistently throughout the document unless your style guide says otherwise.

For example, avoid unnecessary switching:

The survey found that 40 percent of customers were satisfied. Thirty-five per cent wanted more options.

If you are using American English, keep the spelling consistent:

The survey found that 40 percent of customers were satisfied. Thirty-five percent wanted more options.

Consistency helps readers focus on your message rather than your formatting choices.

Percent, Per Cent, or the % Symbol?

Percent, per cent, and % can all express the same percentage concept, but they serve different purposes.

The words work naturally in prose:

The store offers a 15 percent discount.

The store offers a 15 per cent discount.

The symbol can make numerical information more compact:

The store offers a 15% discount.

Style guides differ on when to use the symbol. For example, the Office for National Statistics uses % with no space between the number and symbol, while the Australian Government Style Manual also recommends a percentage sign directly after the numeral.

In Regular Prose

Use the form required by your publication or style guide.

For example:

The company reported a 12 percent increase.

Or:

The company reported a 12 per cent increase.

Or:

The company reported a 12% increase.

All three express the same basic percentage.

In Tables, Charts, and Statistics

The % symbol can make data easier to scan, especially when a table contains several percentages.

Category	Percentage
Group A	45%
Group B	35%
Group C	20%

The Office for National Statistics uses the % symbol in statistical content and places it directly after the number.

Still, follow the style guide for the specific publication. Different organizations may prefer different conventions.

How to Write Percentages in Sentences

Choosing the spelling is only one part of writing percentages clearly. Number style and grammar also matter.

Numerals and Spelled-Out Numbers

You may see percentages written in several ways:

• 5 percent
• five percent
• 5 per cent
• five per cent
• 5%

The best choice depends on the context and the style guide.

For example, a publication may prefer numerals with the % symbol:

The response rate was 65%.

Another may prefer the written form:

The response rate was 65 percent.

When a percentage begins a sentence, many style systems recommend writing out the number or rewriting the sentence. For example:

Fifty percent of the participants agreed.

Or:

Half of the participants agreed.

You can also rewrite the sentence:

The survey found that 50% of the participants agreed.

The important point is to follow one consistent number style. Current Australian and GOV.UK guidance, for example, recommends avoiding a percentage numeral at the beginning of a sentence.

Subject-Verb Agreement

A percentage expression can take a singular or plural verb depending on the noun that follows of.

Compare:

Ten percent of the water is polluted.

Here, water takes the singular verb is.

Now compare:

Ten percent of the students are absent.

Here, students takes the plural verb are.

The same pattern appears in other examples:

Twenty percent of the budget is allocated to research.

Twenty percent of the employees are working remotely.

So, when a percentage expression acts as the subject, look at the noun after of to determine the appropriate verb. Canadian guidance gives the same general principle for percent, per cent, and percentage expressions.

Percent vs. Percentage

Percent and percentage are closely related, but they do not always serve the same grammatical role.

Use percent when you give a specific number:

The company grew by 15 percent.

Twenty percent of the students passed.

Use percentage when you refer to the proportion itself:

What percentage of students passed?

A large percentage of customers renewed their subscriptions.

The percentage of people working remotely has increased.

A useful rule is:

• percent commonly follows a specific number
• percentage is a noun that refers to the proportion itself

For example:

What percentage of customers complained?

Then:

Twenty percent of customers complained.

Cambridge Dictionary defines percentage as an amount often expressed as a number out of 100, while percent refers to an amount or proportion out of every 100.

Percent vs. Percentage Points

Percent and percentage points describe different kinds of change.

A percentage point measures the difference between two percentage values. If an approval rate rises from 20% to 25%, the increase equals 5 percentage points.

The relative increase is different:

• Starting value: 20%
• New value: 25%
• Difference: 5 percentage points
• Relative increase: 25%

So, these two statements do not mean the same thing:

The approval rate increased by 5%.

The approval rate increased by 5 percentage points.

A 5% relative increase from 20% would produce 21%, whereas a rise from 20% to 25% represents a 5-percentage-point increase.

This distinction matters in statistics, business, economics, polling, and financial writing. The Office for National Statistics also distinguishes percentage-point changes from percentage changes.

Common Mistakes With Percent and Per Cent

A few common mistakes can make percentage writing unclear or inconsistent.

Treating One Form as Universally Correct

Do not assume that percent is always correct or that per cent is always correct.

Both forms have established usage. Regional conventions and house styles determine which one fits a particular context.

Mixing Spelling Conventions

Avoid switching randomly between percent and per cent in the same document.

Instead, choose the form that suits your audience or style guide and keep it consistent.

Confusing Percent With Percentage

Use percent with a stated number:

The rate increased by 12 percent.

Use percentage when referring to the proportion itself:

What percentage of the population was affected?

Confusing Percent With Percentage Points

If a rate changes from 30% to 35%, the difference is 5 percentage points.

The relative increase is about 16.7%.

Using the correct term prevents ambiguity, especially in reports and statistical writing.

Assuming One % Rule Applies Everywhere

Style guides do not all handle percentages in exactly the same way.

For example, the Office for National Statistics and Australian Government Style Manual both place the % symbol directly after the number. GOV.UK also uses the % sign with numbers.

Follow the style guide that applies to your writing instead of treating one convention as universal.

Examples of Percent and Per Cent in Context

Because percent and per cent have the same basic meaning, the spelling can change without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Context	American English	British English
General statement	20 percent of students passed.	20 per cent of students passed.
Increase	Sales rose by 10 percent.	Sales rose by 10 per cent.
Proportion	30 percent of the budget	30 per cent of the budget
Formal report	The rate increased by 5 percent.	The rate increased by 5 per cent.

More examples:

American English

The store offers a 15 percent discount to students.

About 70 percent of the employees attended the meeting.

The error rate fell by 3 percentage points.

British or Australian style

The store offers a 15 per cent discount to students.

About 70 per cent of the employees attended the meeting.

The error rate fell by 3 percentage points.

The meaning stays the same. The preferred spelling changes with the English variety or editorial style.

Quick Reference: Per Cent vs. Percent

Question	Answer
Do percent and per cent mean the same thing?	Yes. Both express a proportion out of 100.
Is percent one word?	Yes.
Is per cent two words?	Yes.
Which form is usual in American English?	Percent.
Is per cent correct?	Yes. It remains an established form.
Which form is established in British English?	Per cent, although percent also appears.
Which form does Australian government style use?	Per cent.
What about Canadian English?	Both forms are accepted.
Is percentage the same as percent?	No. Percentage refers to the proportion itself, while percent commonly follows a specific number.
Is a percentage point the same as a percent?	No. Percentage points measure the difference between percentage values.
Is % another spelling of percent?	No. It is a symbol used to represent a percentage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I use “percent” and “per cent” in the same document?

You can, but you generally should not switch between them without a reason. Choose the form that fits your audience or style guide and use it consistently.

Q2. Is “per cent” two words?

Yes. Per cent is written as two separate words, while percent is written as one word.

Q3. Is “percent” formal enough for academic writing?

Yes. Percent can be appropriate for academic writing when it matches the English variety and style guide you are following. Academic publications may have their own rules for numbers and percentage symbols.

Q4. Can “percent” be used without a number?

Yes. Percent can be used without a number in some contexts, although percentage is often more natural when you are referring to the proportion itself. For example, What percentage of the students passed? is a standard construction.

Q5. Which form should I use on an American English website?

Use percent unless your website follows a specific style guide that requires another convention. It is the usual American English form.

Q6. Does “5 percent” mean the same as “5 percentage points”?

No. 5 percent can describe a relative change, while 5 percentage points describes the difference between two percentage values. For example, a change from 20% to 25% is an increase of 5 percentage points, but a 25% relative increase.

Conclusion

Percent and per cent are both correct. Choose percent for American English, while per cent remains an established choice in British English and is the Australian spelling recommended by the Australian Government Style Manual. Canadian English accepts both.

When writing, follow your audience and any applicable style guide. If no specific rule applies, choose one form and use it consistently. Also remember that percentage and percentage points have different uses from percent.