What is the best practice when reporting percentages with a sample size?

• A. Always present percentages alone.
• B. Always present both percentage and counts to avoid confusion.
• C. Present counts only, omit percentages.
• D. Percentages are optional.

Answer: (B)

Percentages are informative, but they don’t tell you how many observations sit behind them, and that matters for interpretation. Including the actual counts alongside percentages provides transparency about the base size, which helps readers assess the precision and reliability of the result. When denominators vary between groups or when data are incomplete, the same percentage can correspond to very different situations. For example, 30% could be 3 out of 10 or 300 out of 1000—quite different in terms of certainty and practical significance. By reporting both the percentage and the counts, you give a complete picture and make it easy to reproduce or verify the results. That’s why the best practice is to present both, typically showing the counts (and the percentage) together, such as 30% (3/10) or 30% (300/1000).