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Calvinshli Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

80% of respondents or 80% of the respondents

Hi all.

I was confused when I saw '80% of respondents'. Why is 'the' not needed?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Perhaps the respondents were anonymous, and the writer wanted to keep the reference general. Or maybe the poll was taken several times and the 80% were different people each time. In that case there were no specific people that could have been 'the' respondents.

— CalifJim

  • Perhaps the respondents were anonymous, and the writer wanted to keep the reference general.
  • Or maybe the poll was taken several times and the 80% were different people each time.
  • In that case there were no specific people that could have been 'the' respondents.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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Perhaps the respondents were anonymous, and the writer wanted to keep the reference general.

Or maybe the poll was taken several times and the 80% were different people each time. In that case there were no specific people that could have been 'the' respondents.

CJ
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