Yes, the wording ""X% of the sales were short sales" is absolutely correct. It means that those trades that were short sales were marked as short sales. It also means that sales that are market as long sales were long. That seems to be a plain English reading of that that anyone would understand.

As far as the percentage, I appreciate Alan calculating the percentage so that I don't have to pull out my own calculator. What is wrong with someone saving me the trouble of doing it myself?

If you have a short phrase that you would like Alan to add to his post that you think would clarify it, why don't you suggest the wording?