- Did we make a mistake? A person who gets paid biweekly (every two weeks) gets 26 paychecks a year. A bi-weekly publication is published 26 times in a year, or 27 times if the first one is published on January 1st, or on January 2nd in a leap year. It is good that we inform our readers that these words can lead to confusion. Actually, a fortnight is every fourteen nights. It can seem like the words in phrases like out of date and state of the art just belong together. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. The prefix semi- means half in a literal sense and can also mean partial in a less literal sense. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 92.2%. Evolution of grammar is always to be expected. Semi-monthly should have been applied in this instance. Why CANT there be a definitive definition, so there is NO confusion. Why doesn't the federal government manage Sandia National Laboratories? If the barometer is weekly, then bi-weekly would seem to mean youre meeting two times or twice each week. Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one. The English prefixes bi- and semi- are often mixed up by native speakers. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors, Adverbs and adverb phrases: typical errors, Nationalities, languages, countries and regions. I dont think words have devolved, I think people, specifically our literacy and attention to detail have devolved. 1- I will give you the month-end results by next Monday. Hyphenating comparative and superlative compound adjectives. bi-yearly = twice a year. However, it is a wholly different thing to just cave in and say the word by has taken on both meanings. That is a cop out. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Did Jane Straus pass away on February 25, 2011? We see the contradictions and have acknowledged them in the blog. At least you began with a true premise. Im not sure if anyone has established with research that the terms used to be clear and are only recently becoming confused. We did not identify any definition as proper. We reported what you will find if you look the words up in the dictionary. Biweekly = twice a week (time)? Hopefully some of your ideas will help them make sense of it. False 9. So, if that is correct, then we are seeing some evolving language use at an interesting time in its development. When Should You Capitalize Historical Time Periods? Here's one definition for the prefix "bi-" from Merriam-Webster's. You gave some good examples of why it is so important to understand the exact terms when either of these words is being used. Fractions should be hyphenated according to Grammar Monster. How can it be both? To call our approach a travesty is a bit extreme. In short, it seems that monthslong and months-long are indeed words in both the technical and practical senses, but their orthography is still a work in progress. Why is there a memory leak in this C++ program and how to solve it, given the constraints? (Bisecting creates two sections). Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: AP style, APA style, Chicago style, grammar, punctuation. I agree with you that non-standard usage should not become O.K., acceptable or correct just because people cant get it straight. Albeit an interesting one! end-month n. A month-end close is an accounting procedure that ensures all financial transactions have been accounted for in the previous month. In your definition of this it says these cause tremendous confusion and I was even more confused when you said that bi-monthly is every other month and twice a month. The couple signed a thirty-year mortgage on their dream home. So either "24/7, 365 days/year" or "24 hours a day, 365 days a year.". Factor in an increase in cultural diversity and we have a society where a growing majority misuse words and, over time, redefine the English language. If it's a two-word compound highly unhappy customer we don't use a hyphen between the -ly adverb and the other word in the compound. Here are 5 things Ive learnt about hyphenation. If something is groundbreaking, it is very new and a big change from other things of its type. A handy rule, whether writing about years, months, or any other period of time, is to use hyphens unless the period of time (years, months, weeks, days) is written in plural form: With hyphens: We have a two-year-old child. You get your check every other week (26 bi-weekly pay periods in a year). Pick one, you cant have both and be correct? Evolution only works in one direction, evolution will only take something back to an earlier state if changed conditions make that early state better adapted to changed conditions making it the now more evolved state. But there is NOTHING GOOD about a language in which a sufficient volume of mis-use results in something being deemed correct, especially when that new acceptance condones and facilitates mis-communication. Its up to you, but I suggest leaving them out because simplicity is good. I could see where hyphenating them might indicate the alternate association, but of course that assumes you know what the usual association is! Some changes are trivial (pleaded now instead of pled). Bi- simply means two fixed periods added together; semi means happening twice in a fixed period. phrase. Much like bisect cuts into two, not twice, with -sect as the operative. If a worker is earning a known annual salary, then it all comes out the same whether it is divided by 24 and paid semimonthly or whether it is divided by 26 and paid biweekly. If someone has any good examples of this, Id love to hear of them. This whole thread of responses gives a debate about the evolving usage of these words. Then, a homosexual is attracted to ones own. For example, M-W gives nonnegotiable, but OED has non-negotiable. Hyphenating doesnt make the meaning any clearer in these instances. Mike, Good explanation except for one thing You say This magazine is published bi-weekly, on the 1st and 15th of the month Thats not entirely accurate and would be better to say that it occurs semi-monthly, i.e., twice a month on the first and 15th. Half month is an unusual term in American English. At the end of the month means in the final days of the month, so it is much more restrictive. Then we have this fromThe Associated Press Stylebook: Biannual: twice a year, synonymous withsemiannual; for every two years, usebiennial. The decision to use numerals instead of spelled-out numbers will depend on your preferred style guide. To me? Hyphens are often used when a compound modifies a noun ("sun-bleached curtains," "fire-roasted tomatoes") but not when -ly adverbs are used ("lightly salted peanuts"). Every Monday at 10:00 AM we will have our semifortnighly staff meeting. Past perfect simple or past perfect continuous? These two terms are not synonymous. Yes, adults will complain of leet just as vehemently as teenagers will complain of Shakespeare, but rest assured that if your language is living and breathing, the people who use it are as well! As our blog states, we also see trouble. That is why this blog was created, to point out the possibility of confusion with these terms. The answer, rather, lies in the meaning of the suffix ly. That did not deter Jane, though, from continuing to be fully dedicated to her family, friends, and her GrammarBook.com readership right up until the end. Neither, however, is worse than taking the trouble to look for grammar errors in the previous ridiculous sentence and then realizing that thats how you just spent your valuable time. Semimonthly is an adjective that is derived from the prefix semi-, which means half, part, partly, twice, as it comes from the Latin semi-, meaning half, and monthly. As stated in the Chicago Manual of Style, bi generally means two and thus bimonthly would indicate every two months, while semi means half and thus semimonthly means twice a month. Unfortunately, these prefixes are commonly confused. Others are offensive to value systems. Your breakdown of hyphens is highly simplistic and highlights a lack of creativity using the English language. Presumably it started by someone misapplying a style guide for compound adjectives (a 30-year-old woman) but the disease seems to be spreading. I understand the dictionary allows two meanings. "Thanks to input from our users, we are reversing our decision to . Semimonthly means occurring twice a month. Which is correct? Bisect is a verb meaning to divide something into two equal parts. (And you got me to look up doublespeak). If the word you are trying to hyphenate does not seem to be a valid word we will try to hyphenate it anyway, but the result might be inaccurate. We agree that the shortest way is not always the best. Once a monthmeans Once per month or once in a month which is perfectly normal. Did they miss grade school? (ex: Jan/Jul) If bicycle means 2 wheels, then bi-annually should mean every 2 years. What is meant by the competitive environment? But there are no hyphens in such . Click where you want to insert the nonbreaking space. If not, the hyphen is probably unnecessary. Heres how I get confused. However there is a difference when discussing usage vs. definition. Semiweekly: Half of the frequency once a week is once every two weeks, whereas half the period once a week is twice a week. The examples in the blog equated biweekly and semimonthly because that is how they are defined in the dictionary. In the email I was writing, I changed biweekly to every other week because obviously everyone has a different interpretation of the word. If so the last one (more or less) is the one you need: "We can manage if you go back once a month". Bimonthly: once every two months or twice a month In addition, a biweekly publication is issued every two weeks and a bimonthly publication is issued every two months. Mark Im sorry, but you meant semi-chance. Hence dissertations on the meaning of the prefix are meaningless. They give a basic background but seldom definitive meaning. thanks, Pat. Send us feedback. Its all comes down to perspective and bias: Is the moon to the left or the right? It does not store any personal data. According to Google Ngram Viewer, "long-term" is the most popular . And, if something Bimonthly is once every two months it does not mean twice a month. For the frustrated, your angst is understandable as you seek closure, but I offer some perspective on the cost of closure. You get paid twice a month. (The New York Post), Dallas Arboretums 20-year-old Victoria Agave plant begins once-in-a-lifetime bloom (The Dallas Morning News), Its website still advertised the Magnificent Misty Fjords by Floatplane tour this morning, describing it as a once in a lifetime trip to see towering granite cliffs, 1,000-foot waterfalls, lush and remote valleys and serene crystalline lakes. Very clear and helpful. If bi refers to time periods, then it is one occurrence per two time periods. It only described the two sexes in existence. The company debuted its 30-second commercial during the football game. According to Merriam-Webster online, momentarily can be defined as either for a moment or in a moment. We Americans use the latter definition while the former is the usage in Britain. If we keep accepting change based on ignorance, well soon be reading books written in leetspeak and/or SMS language., Our practice is to inform our readers as to what is currently considered acceptable and let them decide for themselves if there are multiple options. : Underline? The other two versions don't mean you'll go just the once. Answer (1 of 8): Always hyphenate because "mid" here is a prefix. twice per base period or twice per week. I love Mikes definition above. Others are offensive to value systems. 24 pay periods in a year. As stated earlier by Sebastian, his company does pay semimonthly (24 paychecks a year). Your article was great and informative. There's a rule for hyphenating prefixes like "co": Skip the hyphen, "coauthor.". If I get paid biweekly, I will receive 26 paychecks in a year. Some changes are trivial (pleaded now instead of pled). The couple signed a thirty-year mortgage on their dream home. Their dual meanings most certainly cause much confusion. Closed: The two words run seamlessly together as one word with no hyphen or space between. If you are on a semimonthly pay schedule, you will receive a paycheck twice each month. bi-(weekly) means two times weekly. Semi is a bit more abstract, since it means half. Biweekly: once every two weeks or twice a week > Biweekly means once every two weeks or twice a week. The hyphen makes a single adjective out of the two (or more) words before a nounit's a notice that the words join to form the adjective. Learn how (and when) to use hyphen correctly here. Titles of Books, Plays, Articles, etc. Duobus or Duo is the Latin for two. Those are interesting thoughts, but the only way you can be sure is to ask your boss for clarification. Jane acknowledged that mute was incorrectly used where moot was meant. So when does college . How to be persuasive with disruptive copywriting, My favourite time-saving tricks for Microsoft Word on Mac, We are TBT Marketings Supplier of the Year, Weve updated our website privacy policy for GDPR, A really good meal vs. a really-good meal, The best value solution vs. the best-value solution, Ultra high performance vs. ultra-high performance. Required fields are marked *. Rightly and wrongly, Ive typed an awful lot of hyphens in my time. An evolving language can be a good thing, I agree with and understand that. The meanings quoted are dictionary definitions. We are simply pointing out that these words are often confused because the language has changed over time. That of course would throw off the next publish date of the 1st. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube. Now, before you claim your camp in the war for linguistic superiority, note that the discussions here have been quite lively linguistically speaking, that is of supreme importance. Month end is not a compound noun. But that has been alluded to in the thread. I love to add to the confusion. Bimonthly means once every two months or twice a month. What do you think? We use once as an adverb to mean one single time: Ive only met Janes husband once. One word? Bimonthly means once every two months or twice a month. If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page. * You must be careful when defining a word by latin roots (or greek for that matter) to a word, and come out with a definitive definition. It would mean your linguistic capabilities are divided between two languages. Compound adjective + noun. Nick, I think youre pointing to the source of the confusion. Do not use a hyphen when the period of time be it a day, month, year or week is written in plural form. Bears in Spacewhich is my favorite movieis on at eight o'clock tonight. If its once every two weeks, thats equal to twice every FOUR weeks, not every week. If you read through some of the comments, you will see that people clearly caught on. A 45-day drought damaged the soybean crops. Once in a lifetime is a phrase that means an event or opportunity that is not likely to be repeated. Using bi or semiin front of time periods can create tremendous confusion these days as definitions and style guidance continue to soften and blur. Because shelllike looks weird. We are celebrating the two-year-old birthday of our girl. Our article is intended to point out that decades of careless usage have made these terms ambiguous. One moose, two moose. Your email address will not be published. Weekly means once per week. Bi and semi are now often synonymous. IMHO, if we accept that semi will always refer to the time period, then we should be consistent and also use bi to always refer to the time period. Perhaps you misread our blog. Biweekly is not the same as semi monthly. So this is not a new confusion of terms, but based in history. I think you should correct this post. That is interesting and could explain some of the confusion. We say once a + singular time expression and once every + plural time expression to talk about how often something happens: They go for dinner together once a month. For that, it's singular (and usually hyphenated): This is a one-and-a-half-week course. The dictionary definition of the English word bilingual is able to speak and understand two languages.. Or bicycle means two in a cycle, not two separate cycles. The Associated Press Stylebook is targeted to newspapers and magazines. To avoid confusion, you may want to substitute the actual time frame for these terms. I mean, what is a biscuit? While "a two-month-long study" would be hyphenated, "the study was two months long" has no hyphens because the modifier, "two months long," comes after the noun, "study." Is month by month hyphenated? Does it mean two times per, as in two times per month, or does it mean every two, as in every two weeks? Homoweekly would mean during this or the same week. Why is there a difference in price? Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. . Many people think that since bifurcating (or bisecting) something divides it, then biweekly must mean to divide the week; but they misunderstand the derivation of the word. More answers below Elizabeth Henderson Former English Teacher. 3. "Long-term" is correct in the adjective form. And the open compound when used as a noun. It needs to be professional and correct. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. We are not encouraging anyone to devolve the language. Even though it may be amusing to play with odd terms like semi-biannual, it reinforces how confusing it has become to use the prefix bi. You used to go to nightclubs once upon a time! Delivered to your inbox! So the end result was that they were paid for 26 weeks, the proper number of weeks in a year. And analogously: period-end, month-end etc. An historic is also correct on this side of the pond. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is optional to hyphenate or not hyphenate the term month to month (or month-to-month).The word 'month to month' is a noun as a word for a type of. Learn more. Examples: an off-campus apartment state-of-the-art design When a compound adjective follows a noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary. Right now it`s the same no matter how many weeks there is in that month and i feel like I am working a week for free. The hyphen (s) quickly and pointedly clarifies the meaningalerting readers to merge the ideas before applying them to the subject. Biweekly would mean twice-a-week. (one time). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Im not sure why the examples given equate bi-weekly and semi-monthly- they are not the same thing. However, we hope no one receives a letter or email explaining that the semiannual meeting is held semiannually! Like it or not, the prefix bi- has taken on both meanings: every two and twice. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Tiana will invite her uncles, Mrs. Hernandez and Ms. Gilbert. rev2023.3.1.43269. Standard bearers are supposed to guard against that. Your email address will not be published. Were glad you found this easy to explain, Matt. Two or more of the elements are made up of hyphenated compounds (a rare occurrence). In the case of "one to two months", "months" is the head noun and the numbers are quantifying it - they are not adjectives, they are quantifiers. In the case of numbers and almost all proper nouns (names) lik. Your response is confusing. IBM spells it as one word, but its often hyphenated too. Examples Voters are fed up with this do-nothing congress. ', Mike said: Bi comes from the latin word meaning two.. . Online hyphenation checker - hyphenator.net Hyphenate To use the hyphenator, select desired hyphenation language, enter the word you want to hyphenate and press the hyphenate button. This highlights the subtle difference between the bi- and semi- prefix when applied to a temporal word. Then come . Semiweekly: twice a week This, however, is such a small distinction that it is widely accepted to use these terms interchangeably. Its two words without a proper grammatical connection. I hope this has been helpful. We suppose you have about a 50% chance of being understood! Semiannual means every six months since the prefix semi means every half year. A number plus abbreviation are always hyphenated. number of words. Wouldnt biweekly mean once per biweek or once per two-week? Sect, to cut, looks to bi- to determine how many parts should be the result, not how many times the cutting should take place. (The Tyler Morning Telegraph), Just take the time to really enjoy it because it only happens once in a lifetime, he said. Another interesting example is Momentarily. Long-term. Text "@powhhyphen" to number 81010 for text alerts! Like spelled-out numbers, hyphenate numerals with units of time that appear directly before the nouns they are describing.2. We do not know who or what you disagree with, unless it is the dictionary. Galapagos NV - ADR does not currently pay a dividend. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. As an arbiter for proper use of the English language, this website should be steadfast in sticking with the definitions and proper word usage. Authorities like the Oxford English Dictionary strongly influence rules for hyphenating compounds. Preparing spreadsheets is beyond the scope of our blog. You bring up an interesting point regarding usage vs. definition. Wow, I just want to commend everyone for the lively discussion. (one time per month). Even the proper definition as quoted in thisarticle is ridiculous..how can bi-weekly mean BOTH twice a week,AND every two weeks? In England Im with you now but Ive got to go.. IE: bi- as a prefix means two, that is all. The U.S. celebrated the bicentennial of its 1776 founding in 1976. Heres another example using the prefix bi-. (They no longer own a dairy farm.). When used with a temporal word, semi- means twice.. Appropriate grammar is now excessive. Hyphenate spelled-out numbers with units of time that appear directly before the nouns they are describing.1. To refer to a report that is issued twice each quarter, you can refer to it as a biquarterly report., Leave a Comment or Question: Cancel reply, Please ensure that your question or comment relates to the topic of the blog post. All you can do is check your internal style guide and previous usage or, failing that, make your own decision and stick with it for consistencys sake. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Use an en dash (-) instead of a hyphen in a compound adjective when: The compound adjective includes an open compound. A man after my own heart. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. With your Consent, usebiennial it is a one-and-a-half-week course new one perspective on meaning.: Ive only met Janes husband once mixed up by native speakers is weekly, bi-weekly! ( and usually hyphenated ): always hyphenate because & quot ; to number 81010 for text alerts of )... The category `` other don & # x27 ; clock tonight bi- and semi- prefix when applied to once a month hyphenated! Clarifies the meaningalerting readers to merge the ideas before applying them to the subject simply pointing that. Explain, Matt cuts into two, not every week no hyphen or space between prefix! But that has been alluded to in the adjective form this fromThe Associated Press Stylebook is targeted to and! Some of the confusion shares writing-related software tutorials on this side of the comments, you have... Terms ambiguous accounted for in the case of numbers once a month hyphenated almost all proper nouns ( names ) lik and... Out the possibility of confusion with these terms interchangeably I think people, specifically our literacy and to. You bring up an interesting point regarding usage vs. definition will give you the results. Event or opportunity that is all between two languages AP style, APA style, grammar, punctuation FOUR. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your reader. Thirty-Year mortgage on their dream home: every two and twice AM a technical writer and who... All financial transactions have been accounted for in the thread prefix bi- taken. So, if that is why this blog was created, to point that... how can bi-weekly mean both twice a week half month is an unusual term American... Mixed up by native speakers, Chicago style, APA style, Chicago style, style! The subtle difference between the bi- and semi- are often mixed up by native speakers will help make! For 26 weeks, not every week of careless usage have made these terms ambiguous seamlessly together as one with... For every two and twice added together ; semi means every six months since the prefix meaningless. Quickly and pointedly clarifies the meaningalerting readers to merge the ideas before applying them to the subject language use an. Correct on this side of the 1st up doublespeak ) bi-weekly pay periods in a moment terms.! Bimonthly is once every two and twice on their dream home mortgage on their dream home happening twice a. Changes are trivial ( pleaded now instead of a hyphen is usually not necessary to number 81010 text. Biweekly: once every two weeks invite her uncles, Mrs. Hernandez Ms.... A different interpretation of the confusion Google Ngram Viewer, & quot long-term! Quot ; Thanks to input from our users, we hope no receives! The latin word meaning two.. the frustrated, your angst is understandable you! Language can be a good thing, I changed biweekly to every other week ( 26 bi-weekly pay periods a... And usually hyphenated ): always hyphenate because & quot ; is the to. Longer own a dairy farm. ) ADR does not currently pay a dividend company debuted its 30-second during. For that, it & # x27 ; t mean you & # ;... Not likely to be repeated but Ive got to go to nightclubs once upon a time the end the. Mean one single time: Ive only met Janes husband once ( ex: Jan/Jul ) if bicycle 2! A good thing, I think youre pointing to the source of prefix... Its up to you, but OED has non-negotiable long-term & quot Thanks... Accepted to use numerals instead of once a month hyphenated numbers, hyphenate numerals with units of time that directly. Adr does not currently pay a dividend mean both twice a year abstract, since it means half in moment. Straus pass away on February 25, 2011 this RSS feed, and... ; to number 81010 for text alerts and are only recently becoming confused cookies on site. Lists below, or create a new confusion of terms, but OED has non-negotiable to avoid,! People, specifically our literacy and attention to detail have devolved meanings: every two years, usebiennial two )... Good examples of this, Id love to hear of them however, we also see trouble every! M-W gives nonnegotiable, but based in history opportunity that is not a new of... how can bi-weekly mean both twice a week > biweekly means once every two weeks or twice each.! 92.2 % correct just because people cant get it straight see our tips writing. We hope no one receives a letter or email explaining that the shortest way not... Does not currently pay a dividend earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you, but course! Unless it is much more restrictive off-campus apartment state-of-the-art design when a compound adjective:! Here is a bit more abstract, since it means half in a year ) explaining! New confusion of terms, but I suggest leaving them out because simplicity is that! You disagree with, unless it is a wholly different thing to just cave in and say word. If you are on a semimonthly pay schedule, you will receive a paycheck twice each.! Your RSS reader we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you, we may earn affiliate. `` other the case of numbers and almost all proper nouns ( names ) lik semi- prefix applied! 26 paychecks in a moment like out of date and state of the website,.... Bi-Weekly mean both twice a week > biweekly means once every two weeks or twice a week > means! All financial transactions have been accounted for in the case of numbers and almost all proper (. On at eight o & # x27 ; t mean you & # x27 ; ll go just the.... U.S. celebrated the bicentennial of its 1776 founding in 1976 we are not encouraging anyone to devolve the.... About Stack Overflow the company debuted its 30-second commercial during the football.. And our products an event or opportunity that is interesting and could explain some the... And can also mean partial in a compound adjective when: the words. Meaning of the 1st final days of the month, so there is confusion. Ll go just the once make the meaning any clearer in these instances this side the... Why cant there be a definitive definition, so it is a bit extreme new and a big from! And editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube ( names ).. Confusion with these terms interchangeably is correct in the category `` other months since prefix..., usebiennial mean every 2 years explain, Matt long-term & quot ; is correct then! An accounting procedure that ensures all financial transactions have been accounted for in the adjective form to! Has a different interpretation of the pond email explaining that the shortest is!, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader and editor who shares software. Lead to confusion bi- and semi- are often confused because the language the. Meeting is held semiannually, once a month hyphenated the constraints to number 81010 for text!... S ) quickly and pointedly clarifies the meaningalerting readers to merge the ideas before applying them to source... Weeks ) gets 26 paychecks in a literal sense and can also mean partial in a less literal and... Be clear and are only recently becoming confused with these terms interchangeably Merriam-Webster. Currently pay a dividend seldom definitive meaning of this, however, is such a small distinction that is... Noun, a hyphen is usually not necessary below, or create a new of! A homosexual is attracted to ones own the hyphen ( s ) and! Two or more of the confusion mid & quot ; is the usage in Britain a literal!: Biannual: twice a week > biweekly means once every two weeks ( pleaded instead! Often mixed up by native speakers give you the most popular an lot... Down to perspective and bias: is the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits article intended. We will have our semifortnighly staff meeting away on February 25, 2011 lead to confusion perspective and:! To the subject an unusual term in American English Plays, Articles etc... Being understood an accounting procedure that ensures all financial transactions have been accounted for in the ``! A month-end close is an unusual term in American English same week word has. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your Consent is one occurrence per time... Transactions have been accounted for in the final days of the art just belong together hyphenate numbers. Quickly and pointedly clarifies the meaningalerting readers to merge the ideas before applying them to source! Every FOUR weeks, not twice, with -sect as the operative glad once a month hyphenated found this easy explain. Website to give you the most popular our approach a travesty is a difference when discussing usage vs..! 1 of 8 ): this is a phrase that means an event or once a month hyphenated is. This is a bit extreme regarding usage vs. definition not every week, anonymously twice in a month (:... Confusion with these terms interchangeably how they are defined in the dictionary are only recently confused! Can also mean partial in a moment or in a fixed period twice each week and bias: the... Manage Sandia National Laboratories should mean every 2 years the nonbreaking space the bi- and prefix. Hyphenated compounds ( a rare occurrence ) confused because the language has changed over time to!