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 75%. [percentage: noun]
Example
She received a percentage of the profits from the company. [percentage: noun]
Example
The percentage increase in sales was significant. [percentage: adjective]
ratio
Example
The ratio of boys to girls in the class was 2:3. [ratio: noun]
Example
The ratio of sugar to flour in the recipe is 1:2. [ratio: noun]
Example
The company has a high debt-to-equity ratio. [ratio: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Percentage is more commonly used than ratio in everyday language, especially in contexts related to finance, business, and statistics. Ratio, on the other hand, is more commonly used in technical and scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between percentage and ratio?
Ratio is generally considered more formal than percentage due to its technical and scientific usage. However, both words can be used in formal and informal contexts depending on the situation.
