What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
percentage
Example
The percentage of students who passed the exam was 80%. [percentage: noun]
Example
She received a percentage of the profits from the sale. [percentage: noun]
Example
To find the percentage of a number, multiply it by 100 and divide by the total. [percentage: noun]
proportion
Example
The proportion of men to women in the class was 2:3. [proportion: noun]
Example
The recipe calls for a proportion of 2 cups of flour to 1 cup of sugar. [proportion: noun]
Example
The proportion of people who voted in the election was higher than expected. [proportion: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Percentage is more commonly used than proportion in everyday language, especially in contexts related to business, finance, and statistics. Percentage is also more commonly taught in schools and used in standardized tests.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between percentage and proportion?
Percentage is generally considered more formal than proportion, although both can be used in formal and informal contexts depending on the situation.
