phrases - Is the expression 'half a percent' acceptable in formal English?


When central banks raise or lower interest rates the radio announcer will say for example:



an increase of one half of one percent



Informally people use half a percent instead, which is less wordy, but is it also incorrect? Ngrams analysis shows publishers favour the longer version, although the short form seems to be gaining some traction.


Thinking about it, I'd never offer someone one half of one pizza; that sounds weird. However, I believe of is necessary here, in combination with an article, quantifier or pronoun. Is this correct?



Answer



In short: yes, “half a percent” is accepted usage, even in formal writing.


To back it up: the New Oxford American English lists percent as both an adverb (“a 1.8 percent increase”) and a noun (“a reduction of half a percent or so in price”). Note that the second example nicely answers your question.


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