Page "Percentage" Paragraph 45

Grammar and style guides often differ as to how percentages are to be written.

For instance, it is commonly suggested that the word percent ( or per cent ) be spelled out in all texts, as in “ 1 percent ” and not “ 1 %”.

Other guides prefer the word to be written out in humanistic texts, but the symbol to be used in scientific texts.

Most guides agree that they always be written with a numeral, as in “ 5 percent ” and not “ five percent ”, the only exception being at the beginning of a sentence: “ Ten percent of all writers love style guides .” Decimals are also to be used instead of fractions, as in “ 3. 5 percent of the gain ” and not “ 3 ½ percent of the gain ”.

It is also widely accepted to use the percent symbol (%) in tabular and graphic material.