24

Does a percentage require a singular or plural verb, for example, do we say ten percent "go" or "goes"?

Improve this question
2
  • You can make a test case out of the word "half", in that "half" is equivalent to "50%", and may be easier to find examples for.
    – James
    Commented Sep 12, 2015 at 16:52
  • @James But '.5 of the population are over 40' doesn't sound too idiomatic. One has to be careful when assuming seemingly identical structures will behave the same way.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jun 24, 2017 at 20:22

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
26

It depends on the item/items to which the percentage refers. When discussing something numerable, such as "10% of commenters," the plural would be appropriate. If something innumerable, such as "10% of the solution," then you would use the singular.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    The same applies to common fraction usages also: 1/3 of the men are // 1/3 of the water is. But see the caveat to the answer above.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jun 24, 2017 at 20:19
18

It depends on if the percentage is made up of units (e.g. 10% of people) or is part of a whole (e.g. 10% of the cake).

If it's made up of units, then use the plural:

Of the top 100 earners, 10% own a yacht.

If it's part of a whole, use singular

I made the pie, so 10% is mine.

In the case of a percentage of units, of them is being erased. In the case of a whole of it is being erased.

Improve this answer
4
  • 1
    I'd say that it's more complex than this, at least when considered by those claiming to use logical agreement. One can find on the Internet statements like '82.5% of the population is urban' where the subset of the population, though made up of units, would almost always be considered as a whole, and singular agreement chosen. I'd want: 'It depends on whether the 'percentage' is made up of units and being considered as such, or is [being considered as a homogeneous in itself] part of a whole (whether etically count or not).'
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Oct 22, 2016 at 13:53
  • 1
    Do you have an authoritative reference for this? I find it hard to accept that ten percent is mine: ten percent is the subject and a plurality.
    – Toothrot
    Commented Jun 11, 2019 at 8:42
  • @Toothrot it will take some time to pull data together
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Commented Jun 12, 2019 at 8:04
  • ... Over 10 years!
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jan 22, 2022 at 18:56

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .