I would pick the first one also.

I can't back it up with a citation --- The Chicago Manual of Style is way on the other side of the building, and I'm too lazy to walk --- but I'd lean towards the former also. I recently had "3:00 - 9:00 p.m." pass muster with my proofreader, and it seems a parallel construction to me.

More importantly, though one seems preferable to me, neither seems incorrect nor ambiguous. Set your perfectionism aside and go with your good-enough-ism for a while. ;o) Stop over-thinking stuff, girlfriend!

It's about like saying "Misses Grimes, Smith and Jones" instead of sticking the title on each person. I think either would be acceptable, but as long as the intention is clear, think brevity is usually chosen. But then again, whadda I know? LOL.

Sounds to me like you are working on some lessons. I always did well on composition, but boy the red lines all over my grammar mistakes when the assignments came back looked like road maps.

Good luck.

Wikipedia's MoS says the preference is for one symbol: 20-28%.

Here is a link that might be useful: MoS

Thanks for the answers.

Michelle, "More importantly, though one seems preferable to me, neither seems incorrect nor ambiguous. Set your perfectionism aside and go with your good-enough-ism for a while. ;o) Stop over-thinking stuff, girlfriend!"--I don't get to. It's for a medical manuscript with someone else's name on it. :( It's my job. Thanks for the concern though ;D If you feel like you'd really want to reassure me, you could come do it in person over a chocolate martini.

For what it's worth, AP style is to spell out and use with each figure: "He said 10 percent to 30 percent of the electorate may not vote."

rob,

"you could come do it in person over a chocolate martini."

Jazz only makes little pink drinks. LOL

I always spelled out the figures, as in "fifty to seventy-five percent". Don't know of any rule but I always felt it read easier and less possibility of errors. josh

I usually do 50-75%. We spell out numbers if they are less than 10; 10 and over we use numerals. Exception is lab values are always numeric and we use decimals rather than fractions.

Wanda:

I was going to respond to your erroneous statement yesterday, but I developed browser issues. Because many of us are visual learners, I made a Venn diagram to help explain. Obviously, the martini glass is just there for scale...)

Jaz makes many drinks well.
Some of the drinks Jaz makes well are little and pink.

Technically, I should have added another circle to show that I also make a killer chocolate martini, but I thought it destroyed the elegance of the graphic.

Jaz, Jaz, Jaz...

I always knew it but so happy to hear you admit you're such a well-rounded lady.

As you know, I'm not a drinker but I sure would love one of your little pink drinks....no, moreso, I would love the wonderful company that comes with those little pink drinks.

"I would love the wonderful company that comes with those little pink drinks"

That's what I was after. I figured if I bribed her, she'd come on down. :)

Um, I just NOW got that's an olive. Call me dense!