percentage point

Friendly

Explanation of "Percentage Point"

Definition: A "percentage point" is a unit for expressing the difference between two percentages. It is used when we want to compare two percentage values directly.

Example:

• If the interest rate was 5% last year and it is now 7%, the increase is 2 percentage points (7% - 5% = 2 percentage points).

Advanced Usage:

• In finance and economics, "percentage points" are commonly used to discuss changes in interest rates, inflation rates, or approval ratings in surveys.
• It's important to distinguish between "percentage points" and "percent" when discussing changes. For example, an increase from 5% to 10% is a change of 5 percentage points, but it is a 100% increase (because 10% is double 5%).

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "percentage point," but you might come across related terms:
  • Percentage: A part of a whole expressed in hundredths.
  • Point: Can refer to a dot in mathematics or a unit of measurement in various contexts.

Different Meanings:

• Point: In general, the word "point" can mean a dot or a specific location in space, or a score in a game.
• Percentage: Refers to a proportion out of 100.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "percentage point," but you might use:
  • Percent change (though this is a broader term and not as precise).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "percentage point," but here are some relevant phrases:
  • "A point of interest": This phrase means something that is noteworthy or significant.
  • "To raise the stakes": This can imply increasing the level of risk or effort, which can relate to discussions involving percentages in competitive settings.

Summary

In summary, a "percentage point" is a specific way to measure changes between percentages. It’s important when discussing statistics, especially in fields like finance and research.

Academic

Noun

1. the dot at the left of a decimal fraction

Synonyms

• decimal point
• point