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Englishnewbie Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

An astonishing 99%

Hello,

He scored an astonishing 99% on his exam.

Is it ok to use AN like this?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi, It's not just OK. It's necessary. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, It's not just OK.
  • It's necessary.
  • Clive
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9 Answers
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Hi,

It's not just OK. It's necessary.

Clive
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Hi thanks for the answer! If you don't mind, can you explain why?

% is not a countable.. so how come "an" is necessary here?
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Hi,

Here, the writer is thinking of 99% as 'a mark'. The group of students were given several different marks.
eg
3 students got a 97%.
4 students got a 98%
1 stude
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HI, Are you saying

I got 90% on my math exam
is wrong?

This has to be
I got a 90% on my math exam
?

---

what about

Obama got 50% in the last year's election.

Is this also

Obama got a 50% in the last year's election.

?
Thanks.
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As Clive pointed out, the 99% is "a mark" or "a grade" and, thus, needs an article.

In your examples:

I got 90% on my math exam. Unless you said "I got 90% of the questions on my math exam correct."
I got a 90% on my math exam.

Obama got 50% (of the vote) in the last year's election.
Obama got a 50% in the last year's election Yo
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Hi,

Let me make another point I didn't mention in my last post.

There can be different kinds of 99% marks, distinguished by an adjective.
eg Tom is a weak student, He got an astonishing 99%.
eg Mary i
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Thank you all for your replies.
I am beginning to understand...

What if I said

Obama got AN astonishing 99% of votes in Texas.

Obama got astonishing 99% of votes in Texas.

Which is correct?

Thanks.
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Hi,

Obama got AN astonishing 99% of votes in Texas.

Obama got astonishing 99% of votes in Texas.

Which is correct? The former.

Clive
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