EASILY CONFUSED WORDS – RATIO AND RATION

I frequently see “ration” in place of “ratio” in scientific papers, and it is misused in many news reports.


 A RATIO is a quantitative relationship between two values (such as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter).

 e.g. “In fact, a ratio of roughly 105 male births for every 100 female ones is generally seen as natural and normal.”

 “In the US, record-breaking high temperatures are outnumbering record lows by a ratio of two to one.”

 “His finance ministry is projecting a tax ratio of just below 12 percent this year.”


 A RATION is a fixed amount of something.

 e.g. “Lime cordial first originated in the 1700s when it was used by the Royal Navy to ensure sailors received their daily ration of lemon or lime juice.”



 Photo credit: Dan Heatherly