‘Per Cent' or 'Percent': Which is Correct?

Should you spell it ‘per cent’ or ‘percent’? And what’s the difference between the two? We’ll go over that in more detail in this article, plus you’ll learn how to pronounce the correct one and use it in a sentence correctly.

Need the answer now? Here’s the short one:

• Both spellings of the word are correct. The word refers to the percent symbol used in mathematics.
• ‘Percent’ is the preferred spelling in the U.S.
• ‘Per Cent’ is the preferred spelling in all other English-speaking countries.

Therefore, if you’re writing for an American audience, you’d use ‘percent’ as opposed to ‘per cent.’

‘Percent’ vs. ‘Per Cent’ – What’s the Difference?

So, we just learned that the only difference between these two words is that ‘percent’ is the American English spelling of the word, and ‘Per Cent’ is how people spell it in other English-speaking countries.

How to Use ‘Percent’ and ‘Percent’ Correctly

If you’re writing for an American audience, you can use ‘percent.’

However, if your audience is outside of the U.S., you should probably use ‘per cent.’

Definition and Meaning of ‘Percent’ and ‘Per Cent’

Now that we know how to use the words let’s take a look at the official definition.

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of this word is one part in a hundred.

It could also mean paying interest at a specific percent.

How to Pronounce ‘Per Cent’ and ‘Percent’ 

Wondering how to pronounce these words? Here’s a quick guide.

• To pronounce both words correctly here’s the phonetic spelling: pUHrsEnt

How to Use ‘Percent’ and ‘Per Cent’ in a Sentence

Now that we know what the words mean and how to pronounce them let’s see some example sentences.

• Autumn is about half over now – or about fifty percent. As they say in Winterfell, “Winter is coming.”
• I got an 80 percent on my geography test. I need to study more, I guess.
• I’m about 75 percent of the way done with that new fiction novel I just bought. It’s so good!
• About 50 percent of people in this area don’t have a car, according to local studies.
• He helped me with a percentage math problem today.
• A large percentage of the seniors are not graduating this year. What’s going on?

Concluding Thoughts on ‘Per Cent’ and ‘Percent’

To recap, we learned that the difference between these words is:

• Both spellings of the word are correct. The word refers to the percent symbol used in mathematics.
• ‘Percent’ is the way people spell it in the U.S.
• ‘Per Cent’ is the way people spell it in other English-speaking countries.

So, if you’re writing for an American audience, use ‘percent’ rather than ‘per cent.’

If you ever find yourself stuck on something, you can always come back for a quick visit to refresh your memory. We’ve got a ton of other content on confusing words and phrases you might see while learning the language. It’s just for English learners like you. Go check it out whenever you need to.