November 2012 – ChanteSez.com

ChanteSez … Keep it 100

I like the saying “Keep it 100.” Since it’s a reference to “100 percent,” let’s talk about using “percent” in your writing.

Always spell out “percent.”
Exception: headlines or titles, where it’s OK to use the % symbol.
If you’re comparing percentages, always use “percent” after both figures. For example, “The business has seen an increase of between 40 percent and 50 percent compared to last year.”
Speaking of figures, always use numerals when pairing them with “percent” — even when they’re single digits. For example, “She decreased the errors in her writing by 8 percent after reading ChanteSez every week.”

If so, feast your eyes on these food-related words — a primer on what’s capitalized and what’s not.

french fries — no caps … and no offense to our Francophile friends
french toast — no caps
Brussels sprouts — the “B” is capitalized, and like the city, takes an “s” on the end
barbecue — lower-case, but note that it’s spelled out and with a “c”

And of course, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and friends! May it be a fun, filling, safe and blessed holiday for you!