Even if that one per cent represents 55 million, then it is still singular.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 10:36, 1 reply, 12 years ago)

Depends if you're talking about the percentage per se or the things defined by it.
We could all be right and arguing to no great purpose on the internet.
Still, it makes the morning go quicker.
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 10:42, Reply)

No, it doesn't.
The subject of your statement, when talking about one percent of something, is always the one percent. Which is singular.
( Kroney, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 10:44, Reply)

In the original story the subject was fat kids, not statistics
Thing is, either of these reads fine to me;

One in four kids is fat

One in four kids are fat.
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 10:49, Reply)

You see, in that sentence, you're singling out the fat kid, right?
That's the "one in" part of the sentence, you're focusing on that child, which makes it the subject. Therefore because it's "one kid", it's singular. Same for "one percent", they're both still one of something.

If it were "four out of ten kids", it would be a plural.

The mistake occurs because people see the "out of four" bit and think they're talking about a group, when they're not.
( Kroney, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 10:54, Reply)

"you're singling out the fat kid"
you're not, you're describing a proportion of kids as fat.

"The mistake occurs because people see the "out of four" bit and think they're talking about a group, when they're not."
They are.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 10:57, Reply)

And this, Chompy, is why you're looking like a fool.

( Kroney, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 10:58, Reply)

One of those statements is grammatically correct,
....and one are not.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 10:55, Reply)

click!

(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 11:00, Reply)