Learn English – Prepositions before and after percentages

numberspercentages

I'm commenting on several data of a graphic and I have a doubt question about the preposition that comes (or doesn't) before the percentage, and whether the determiner "the" has to appear before "times/ cases…"

Sentences:

Further, (in) 73,83% of (the) times bloody is said…
… while only 26,16% of (the) cases is a child…
We can notice that (in) 75,6% of (the) times…

Could you please give me some guidance?

Best Answer

Note that whether or not the is used doesn't depend on the % symbol. It depends on the sentence, and the is used as per the normal rules.

There's a piece of land we own. 90% of the land (we're talking about) is cultivated. [The has to be used]

65% of children play computer games. [Not the children, unless it is specified which children are we talking about].

Examples are from oxford

So to know whether or not the is needed, we'll require your whole sentences with context.

Same goes for in. It is included/omitted as per the normal rules.

Compare:

  • In is required
    • In most of the cases, we succeeded
    • In 70% of the cases, we succeeded
  • In is not required
    • We can notice that most of the times...
    • We can notice that 20% of the times....

Don't let the mathematical symbols confuse you. As a matter of fact, you should always write fifty percent instead of 50% .

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