[percent = per cent = per one-hundred = out of 100]

If a statistic contains less than 100 individual data points, it’s not a 'percent'. If 35 out of 51 people surveyed said they had Chlamydia, say “35 out of 51 people surveyed have Chlamydia”; don’t say “68.6% of people surveyed have Chlamydia.” You don’t know that. True, if you maintained that exact ratio, a sample of 100 people would have a 68.6% incidence rate of Chlamydia, but you don’t know that. Basically, you're artificially doubling your sample size, Mike, and that is just wrong. So next time you try to tell me that 68.6% of your friends have Chlamydia, Michael William Wehnert, Jr., at least make sure you’ve talked to 100 people.

Quote of the Day

Whether you think you can or you can’t -- you’re right*.

*Provided, of course, you took into account your personal strengths and weaknesses, and considered as many possible outcomes as is needed to base a logical, statistically realistic conclusion on.