TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: What's the term From:Chris Kowalchuk <chris -at- BDK -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 14 Apr 1999 15:11:54 -0400
2.5% vs. .025.
I believe you would call ".025" a decimal fraction, and "2.5%" a
percentage. Both are real numbers, as opposed to whole numbers or
integers (which can be negative), but that's not the distinction you
want to make. Decimal fractions are always some part of 1, whereas
percentages are always some part of 100. So, to my mind, using the term
"percentage", or "expressed as a percentage", is really all you can say,
and does indicate what you mean.
Somebody who knows something about mathematics or accounting (I just
happen to have a retentive memory for things learned in grade school)
might be able to correct me, but I don't think it is any more
complicated than that.
