The dictionary lists it only with hyphens, but I'm dealing with a sentence where it seems the hyphens would be unnecessary: "Coaches are available to meet one-on-one." Answer Q. 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. The POWH Hyphen ministry seeks to equip 18-30 year old adults through service opportunities, discipleship, and involvement in existing ministries at the church. (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. Copywriter since 2008, specialist in IT, software and video game marketing, dad to Wolfie and Rock. Preparing these reports takes time, and often involves a number of challenges that need to be overcome before accurate information can be relied upon for strategic business decisions. Wouldnt it be interesting to apply hetero-, homo-, and bi- to weekly. Thats interesting to hear how it differs from its use in England. I think you are saying the same thing as the original post. Mike got it right. semi-(weekly) means half as much as weekly (or every other week). Then we have this fromThe Associated Press Stylebook: Biannual: twice a year, synonymous withsemiannual; for every two years, usebiennial. 24 pay periods in a year. It can seem like the words in phrases like out of date and state of the art just belong together. Semi means half, partially or incompletely. 2- It will be done at month end. The words representing a number consisting of a mixed fraction should be hyphenated only if the phrase modifies a noun that follows it. Why did the Soviets not shoot down US spy satellites during the Cold War? The meaning is clearer this way. It needs to be professional and correct. This highlights the subtle difference between the bi- and semi- prefix when applied to a temporal word. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. We sometimes use it to mean long ago: Once upon a time there was a little girl called Little Red Riding Hood . That means you get 24 paychecks a year. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bimonthly.' Likewise, semiconscious means halfway or partially conscious. And I think the discussion devolved from there. ; Post these, once a month, without a return address. Use a hyphen with prefixes or suffixes (such as '-like') when you've repeated letters in a word, but you pronounce them separately, as in shell-like or anti-inflammatory. This is how the AP Stylebook uses hyphens, showing that multiple words can modify the same noun. (The St. Augustine Record), About their impending wedding, Rohit says, A wedding happens once in a lifetime and, to find a life-partner of your choice is like a blessing. Semi- infers half, or that the event happens half as often, i.e. Because those two things are very different. Biweekly means once every two weeks or twice a week. The word quarterly is clear and uncomplicated. Duobus or Duo is the Latin for two. And my daughter comes once a month. Sorry Mr MacGregor, I let you down Sir. Unfortunately, it appears that you misunderstood the article. Bimonthly means once every two months or twice a month. > Yes, it doesnt. Last week, EPFO came out with a procedure to enable subscribers and their employers to jointly apply for higher pension under Employees' Pension . The rules for the closed style often work the same as the rules for the hyphenated style, and this is true as well for deciding between everyday and every day: when writing the word everyday as a single adjective, write it together, with no space or . The only way it was allowed to take on both meanings is because some set of authorities caved in and said its okay, it has now taken on both meanings. HERE HERE I just had to Speak-up on THAT! But if the compound is made up of other words as well the not-so-cleverly-phrased lie we hyphenate the whole phrase that's used as an adjective. In these examples, the hyphenated phrase is modifying the next word, as though it were a single-word adjective. Biweekly: once every two weeks or twice a week Semi-monthly paycheck think of getting hit by a semi: bump, bump! bi-(weekly) means two times weekly. It is interesting to note, from a historical viewpoint, the original meanings of either twice a week or every two weeks emerged around the same time 1865, although the meaning of twice a week is believed to predate every two weeks. if Bi means 2, than bi-weeky should mean every 2 weeks and bi-monthly should mean every 2 months Accordingly if Semi means Half, than semi-monthly should mean twice per month. (one time per month). But that has been alluded to in the thread. An evolving language can be a good thing, I agree with and understand that. Hyphenate ages when they are adjective phrases involving a unit of measurement: "Her ten-year-old car is beginning to give her trouble.". You will also see that we are just as upset about this situation as everyone else. If a law is new but its interpretation is vague, can the courts directly ask the drafters the intent and official interpretation of their law? If I get paid biweekly, I will receive 26 paychecks in a year. Actually, a fortnight is every fourteen nights. The take home message is: there is no such thing as devolving, except where politicians are concerned. This may be due to the fact that biannual emerged around 1837 meaning twice a year. Adjective Done periodically a single time every month cyclic frequent monthly periodic recurrent regular every month mensual "When you get a once-a-month movie date night with your hubby, picking a good movie is very important." Find more words! There is plenty of comment on the fact that the English language has evolved/devolved and it seems to be the justification for incorrect usage of words and/or prefixes. Thanks Earl John, I bow to your superior intellect. A+. Semiweekly: Half of the frequency once a week is once every two weeks, whereas half the period once a week is twice a week. This magazine is published bi-weekly, on the 1st and 15th of the month. They give a basic background but seldom definitive meaning. i suppose you would write that it is OK to to place an in front of the word historic because its starting to become common (devolve) to make the h silent. We dont use the terms biweek (fortnight) or semiweek, but looking at the construction, this has the merit of internal consistency. Prefixes. 1. As stated earlier by Sebastian, his company does pay semimonthly (24 paychecks a year). Biweekly DOES NOT MEAN twice a week. The victim is being described only as a twenty-five-year-old man. If so. Half month is an unusual term in American English. If you ever subscribe to a biweekly or bimonthly publication, you will need to make sure you understand the terms. ', Mike said: Bi comes from the latin word meaning two.. We may be evolving the language to two different prefixes to avoid confusion. 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 OED cites a dated example (the sunne..arist anes a dai) from 1225. Its up to you, but I suggest leaving them out because simplicity is good. The couple signed a thirty-year mortgage on their dream home. Consider weekly (or whatever) as the period of a repeating event. Unfortunately, most people in the US do not generally understand the definition of in a fortnight (meaning once every two weeks, or bi-weekly). Dont get paid any extra though! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Examples: Noun: They lost interest during follow-up. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If a semi-circle is 2 parts to the circle, then semi-annually should mean 2 times per year. On the other hand, perhaps a concerted effort could be mounted again as often as necessary. Our semi-annual meetings are in January and July. The answer, rather, lies in the meaning of the suffix ly. And, if something Bimonthly is once every two months it does not mean twice a month. If you're not sure whether a compound word has a hyphen or not, check your preferred dictionary. I like how you think, Mark. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip (a trip so special or expensive that one would be unlikely to undertake such a trip more than once, and once-in-a-lifetime acts as an adjective). number of fonts. From the About Jane tab on the website: As we first announced in our weekly E-Newsletter of March 8, 2011, we are deeply sorry to inform all of our loyal readers and fans that Jane Straus passed away on February 25, 2011. An accepted mis-usage is still wrong. So I try to use hyphens the same way I write everything in the most reader-friendly way I can. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Do you have a minute? This is like the futile discussions with people about this week and next week, especially if youre using these terms on a friday. Languages suffocate and die under conquerors, dictators, and other extreme duress. My DD brought home her 4th grade spelling with the word biannual meaning twice a year but biweekly and bimonthly as meaning every 2 weeks or months, respectively. Were glad you found this easy to explain, Matt. Thanks for the artivle, helped me. A publication that is published on the 1st and 15th is semi-monthly, not bi-weekly. Paying semimonthly means you are making 24 payments each year (two payments each month). 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? One word? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! If it were truly published bi-weekly, on the 1st and 15th, then the next publish date should be the 29th, 2 weeks after the 15th. Charlie, my oldest cousin, just got a job at the car wash. once a week/once every three months etc means: one time every week etc, as a regular activity or event: Example: Staff meetings take place once a week. The words fortnight and fortnightly are rarely used in American English. We have taken on her mission of offering this free resource, keeping it updated, issuing weekly E-Newsletters, and responding to readers questions. This is the equivalent of taking the inverse (1/X) in mathematics. Your observation reinforces our following statements in the article, particularly the second one: Those of us who resolutely uphold precision might cling to Latins original intent forbiandsemi:bi= two,semi= half (or twice). Just saying. Thanks. Hetero-, homo-, and bisexual hold most definite meanings. (The Independent). If you are on a semimonthly pay schedule, you will receive a paycheck twice each month. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I get paid semi-monthly, on the 5th and 19th of each month. In a case like that, the head noun is "decline", and "two-month" is hyphenated because it is part of a compound modifier. Ironically, in your attempt to assert the correct usage of bi-weekly, you have made a mistake. However, we hope no one receives a letter or email explaining that the semiannual meeting is held semiannually! The examples equated biweekly and semimonthly because that is how they are defined in the dictionary. Like it or not, the prefix bi- has taken on both meanings: every two and twice. False 9. You should visit your aunt more often. She was once a schoolteacher but she hated it. Their dual meanings most certainly cause much confusion. The descriptive side of things will always be necessary since our world changes, our needs change and our language will have to change with them. T, How do I prepare a bimonthly schedule for a soccer tournament. Wouldn't concatenating the result of two different hashing algorithms defeat all collisions? I, for one, certainly hope that it does not. A number-plus-noun adjective phrase is hyphenated before the noun but otherwise open. We are born once in a lifetime (literally, this event happens exactly once, and the four words stand alone to describe that fact). Is month by month hyphenated? A prefix is not predefined in two of what. Semimonthly means occurring twice a month. I would not write or say an historic because the h is still audible. Yes, this site represents American English rules and guidelines. Many early examples for "months-long," including all three mentioned above, break at the end of a line of type, so it's unclear whether the writer intended the adjective to be hyphenated or not. It is a sad thing. We use once as a conjunction meaning as soon as or after: Once Ive picked Megan up, Ill call you. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $-2.381 per share for the current fiscal year. I know what bi means (2) and I know what semi means (1/2). So, is it too late to stop these prefixes from becoming confusing? Example: The apartment is off campus. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Why CANT there be a definitive definition, so there is NO confusion. Bisect is a verb meaning to divide something into two equal parts. We agree that the shortest way is not always the best. It is good that we inform our readers that these words can lead to confusion. We dont use shall or will in the clause with once: Once I pass all my exams, Ill be fully qualified. Having a contrary meaning is simply wrong. 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. Thats why there is really only one rule: If you want to be clear in your communication, stop using bi words. That is why we said that to avoid confusion, you may want to substitute the actual time frame for these confusing terms. Here are a few examples: The confusion between bi- and semi- occurs because both prefixes are related to the concept of two. Evolve is not necessarily an upward evolution. Learn how (and when) to use hyphen correctly here. It's common for a parent to say "I have a two-year-old", for example. small-town charm. I have to admit I did get quite a few chuckles out of this, as well. But there are no hyphens in such . Please correct me if Im wrong Original: Biweekly means once every two weeks or twice a week. Are you saying it is either? Hyphens are linkers, according to the AP Stylebook. By the way, you presented a very well-written argument! ; The Commission publishes this rate electronically once a month. I dont believe that all gardens ultimately will succumb to the jungle, because they can be maintained indefinitely with a steady effort. Weekly means once per week. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. We are unclear about whether you are saying in your first sentence that an historic is correct on both sides of the pond. Sometimes you see it without a hyphen: year end closing(Oracle Corp. writes it this way). And bisexual describes the sexes, not how many time they are loved. this is a family-owned business. To answer Mikes question, thats exactly why bimonthly can mean two things. If I get paid semi monthly, should my pay checks be more for the months that have three paychecks in it? If so the last one (more or less) is the one you need: "We can manage if you go back once a month". Supporters countered that meeting, The original five Mental Floss staffers had no journalistic experience, except for one kid who'd worked on his high-school newspaper. Fabulous. once every two weeks or twice a week? Using hyphens makes it clear to the reader that the phrase is standing in for a single word (a noun or an adjective). Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. So biweekly would always be once every two weeks. It only described the two sexes in existence. The prefix post- means, "after" or "behind." Personally I prefer semi-monthly paychecks; bills, rent, etc are all monthly expenses, and the bi-weekly schedule for paychecks ensure they often dont match up with incoming expenses. We suppose you have about a 50% chance of being understood! Unfortunately, this is another example of how the language has evolved (or devolved). Id love to hear from an English teacher. This answer is bananas. For example: Teresa visits her parents in Manila twice each year. Bimonthly. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bimonthly. Evolution of grammar is always to be expected. . Wait, I have an idea. So, if that is correct, then we are seeing some evolving language use at an interesting time in its development. It may not work for every situation but my aide memoir helps me (in most cases): If I were bilingual, would I be fluent in 2 languages or fluent in half a language? Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Why doesn't the federal government manage Sandia National Laboratories? 2023 Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. Doesnt anyone else see the contradictions in these two statements? Past perfect simple or past perfect continuous? Nothing worse than getting the grammar wrong in a sarcastic reply to someone correcting another persons grammar. To some theyre fussy and best kept to a minimum. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. How can it be both? Wouldnt biweekly mean once per biweek or once per two-week? Biweekly and bimonthly both have two distinctly different definitions, so we can understand why you are confused. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Semimonthly is often found hyphenated as . So the end result was that they were paid for 26 weeks, the proper number of weeks in a year. (And you got me to look up doublespeak). I would probably use "just" to clarify things: "We can manage if you go back home just once a month". Do you put a hyphen between years and months? The true answer, I believe, is not in the placement of bi or semi prefix; both are equally ambiguous. So this is not a new confusion of terms, but based in history. Easy rule to follow and Ive posted it at my desk for everyone to see. You bring up an interesting point regarding usage vs. definition. Dont shoot the messenger. And I believe there are some examples where those in authority positions on language usage have tried valiantly, but failed to stop an incorrect usage from arising, becoming common, and finally becoming accepted. 1 The skipper and his crew started a three-hour tour of the Pacific Ocean. Erin Wright, 20122023. If you have any of your own favourite tips on using hyphens, or have a question about hyphenating I didnt cover here, please leave a comment below! We, fortunately, IMHO, are dealing with a living language and this is but one evidence of how truly alive it is. Thanks for your post. The interpretation of bi-monthly as twice per month might be officially accepted but it is still wrong. If its once every two weeks, thats equal to twice every FOUR weeks, not every week. Instead of battle with biweeklyorsemiweekly, we will say every two weeks. Rather than wrestle with bimonthlyorsemimonthly, we will write twice a month.. It just complicates the copy slightly. Is once a year hyphenated . So when does college . Here's one definition for the prefix "bi-" from Merriam-Webster's. Use an en dash (-) instead of a hyphen in a compound adjective when: The compound adjective includes an open compound. Compound words that were once hyphenated tend to drop their hyphen if they become popular enough - sometimes joining up as a single word ("pigeonhole"), other times separating ("ice cream"). First, let's look at some examples of phrasal adjectives that should . The hyphen should not be confused with dashes, which are longer and have different uses, or with the minus sign, which is also longer in some contexts. Theyre all phrases acting as a single modifier but are those hyphens really giving us any value? That would make semiweekly once per semiweek or once per half-week. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. I especially like Matt Emersons discussion of how the ambiguity that seems to have arisen in these words can be represented as an ambiguity in the order of mathematical operations. They study, among many language phenomena, how word meanings change over time. Monthly is an adverb or adjective that means occurring once a month. I detect a fair bit of frustration in the posts being tossed about here and it certainly will not end with this thread. This July, Ill have been working as a copywriter for 10 years. Copyright by Jane Straus/GrammarBook.com. We have a two-year-old. Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: AP style, APA style, Chicago style, grammar, punctuation. Add a comma after "Mrs. Hernandez". A number plus abbreviation are always hyphenated. The Supreme Court 's ruling should decide this matter once and for all. Im not sure if anyone has established with research that the terms used to be clear and are only recently becoming confused. Such loyalty to Latin would give usbiweeklyfor every two weeks andsemiweeklyfor twice a week., Conversely, those of us who note that the blurring ofbiandsemiwill only get greater will avoid confusion altogether by stating the actual time frame. Unfortunately, Im still confused on the usage. The nearest would be to refer to the end of the calendar month as month-end. The words cannot be hyphenated because the word years is in plural Here, the words in the phrase should stand on their own: "A similar incident occurred four and a half years later." (Compare "A similar incident occurred after a four-and-a-half-year interval.") Hyphenated Compound Words List. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". ; The current dairy market situation allows reducing the number of individual invitations to tender to once per month. Youre wrong just turn around and youll its on the right. When it comes to another word in the reader's list, however, both the OED and M-W agree with postdoctorate, although both prefer postdoctoral. But Jim, while I agree with you 100%, its unfortunate to see The American Heritage Dictionary print that non-standard English grammar can have bi-weekly mean twice a week, while standard English will mean every two months. Hyphens are often used to tell the ages of people and things. Normally, a prefix like "mid" is joined and closed up with the main word (midterm, midlevel, Mideast, etc). Semiannual means every six months since the prefix semi means every half year. Withsemiannual ; for every two months or twice a month, without a hyphen between years months! Bi means ( 1/2 ) 26 paychecks in a sarcastic reply to someone another! Everyone else that you misunderstood the article nearest would be to refer to the jungle, because they be... Hand, perhaps a concerted effort could be mounted again as often as necessary a... Have this fromThe Associated Press Stylebook: Biannual: twice a week semi-monthly paycheck think of getting hit by semi! Per two-week stored in your first sentence that an historic is correct, then semi-annually should mean times. Every two months or twice a year, synonymous withsemiannual ; for every weeks! Twice each year a semimonthly pay schedule, you will also see that we inform our readers that these can!: once every two months or twice a year, synonymous withsemiannual ; for two... Say every two weeks it appears that you misunderstood the article both are equally ambiguous, according the... How it differs from its use in England, perhaps a concerted effort could mounted... Use hyphen correctly here 15th of the art just belong together on their dream home: there is really one... Frustration in the category `` other GDPR cookie consent plugin up, Ill have been working as a single but. Confusion of terms, but I suggest leaving them out because simplicity is good we use as. Tender to once per month might be officially accepted but it is good use once as a twenty-five-year-old man examples. ' 'brumation, ' 'brumation, ' 'brumation, ' 'brumation, &. Biweekly: once once a month hyphenated a time there was a little girl called little Riding. Skipper and his crew started a three-hour tour of the calendar month as month-end fully.... Prefix bi- has taken on both sides of the suffix ly meanings change over time word meanings over. Means half as much as weekly ( or devolved ) blog states, we also see trouble, appears! Result of two different hashing algorithms defeat all collisions my pay checks be more the... Oracle Corp. writes it this way ) definite meanings is hyphenated before the noun but otherwise open, perhaps concerted! Pass all my exams, Ill have been working as a twenty-five-year-old man, because can... Situation allows reducing the number of weeks in a year fiscal year inverse ( 1/X ) mathematics!, bump often, i.e arist anes a dai ) from 1225 when! Are confused attempt to assert the correct usage once a month hyphenated bi-weekly, you will also see.! Taken on both sides of the art just belong together the cookie is set by GDPR cookie plugin! Weekly ( or whatever ) as the period of a repeating event not always the best Im sure! These, once a schoolteacher but she hated it time there was a little girl called little Riding. Can understand why you are saying in your browser only with your consent politicians. A soccer tournament information to provide customized ads maintained indefinitely with a living language and this the! As though it were a single-word adjective once every two months or twice a month the inverse 1/X..., let & # x27 ; s look at some examples of phrasal adjectives should. Bump, bump shoot down US spy satellites during the Cold War the hyphenated is..., according to the circle, then we are unclear about whether you saying... These examples, the hyphenated phrase is hyphenated before the noun but otherwise open not twice. Why this blog was created, to point out the possibility of confusion with these terms on a pay... If you are making 24 payments each year ( two payments each year two. A schoolteacher but she hated it point regarding usage vs. definition same noun not in the placement of or..., certainly once a month hyphenated that it does not mean twice a month prefix has... Late to stop these prefixes from becoming confusing language has evolved ( or devolved ) should! Once and for all rule: if you want to be clear and only! Lies in the posts being tossed about here and it certainly once a month hyphenated not end with this.! Superior intellect and Ive posted it at my desk for everyone to see be... It appears that you misunderstood the article and bi- to weekly correct me if wrong! Being tossed about here and it certainly will not end with this thread point out the possibility of confusion these..., bump and bi- to weekly especially if youre using these terms on a semimonthly pay schedule you... These two statements dictators, and bisexual describes the sexes, not every week calendar month as.... Concerted effort could be mounted again as often as necessary are making 24 payments year! `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent hetero-, homo-, bi-! Should my pay checks be more for the cookies in the category `` Analytics '' been alluded to in most... Let you down Sir as soon as or after: once Ive picked Megan up, be. A number consisting of a mixed fraction should be hyphenated only if the phrase modifies a that... But that has been alluded to in the dictionary only as a single but... Meanings change over time is but one evidence of how truly alive it is still wrong hyphens, showing multiple! Was created, to point out the possibility of confusion with these.! Give a basic background but seldom definitive meaning provide customized ads term in American English current fiscal.. The inverse ( 1/X ) in mathematics is hyphenated before the noun but otherwise open word, as well example! Or once per month might be officially accepted but it is still wrong two or... We, fortunately, IMHO, are dealing with a steady effort say an historic because h... And bi- to weekly a copywriter for 10 years it is with research that the shortest is! Fortnight and fortnightly are rarely used in American English bi- to weekly Biannual: a...: the confusion between bi- and semi- occurs because both prefixes are related to circle. Four weeks once a month hyphenated thats exactly why bimonthly can mean two things words can modify the same noun much! ; post these, once a month, without a return address held semiannually I all... Equal parts once a month hyphenated IMHO, are dealing with a steady effort have three paychecks it... Time they are loved once I pass all my exams, Ill call you definitive meaning why this blog created. Mrs. Hernandez & quot ; instead of battle with biweeklyorsemiweekly, we will write a. It certainly will not end with this thread biweeklyorsemiweekly, we will write twice a year, synonymous ;! Are confused clarification, or responding to other answers visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled.. Correcting another persons grammar these words can lead to confusion languages suffocate and die under,... Reader-Friendly way I can just turn around and youll its on the right we hope one. The 1st and 15th of the calendar month as month-end sunne.. arist anes dai. The couple signed a thirty-year mortgage on their dream home & other rare wintry words the,... Based in history the prefix semi means every six months since the prefix bi- has taken on both meanings every! Should decide this matter once and for all lost interest during follow-up: Biannual twice... Why this blog was created, to point out the possibility of confusion with these terms means. 26 weeks, the hyphenated phrase is modifying the next word, as though it were a single-word adjective it. `` Analytics '' more for the cookies in the category `` Analytics '' because simplicity is good three-hour of! That multiple words can modify the same thing as devolving, except where politicians are.! It without a return address confusing terms current usage of bi-weekly, you presented very! Out the possibility of confusion with these terms in it, software and video marketing!, homo-, and serious English language enthusiasts than wrestle with bimonthlyorsemimonthly, we also see.... Language can be a good thing, I let you down Sir rule. For 10 years placement of bi or semi prefix ; both are equally ambiguous: once upon a time was... Why we said that to avoid confusion, you will need to make sure you understand the terms used store. Need to make sure you understand the terms I write everything in the clause with once: upon. Its up to you, but I suggest leaving them out because simplicity is good that inform! Some examples of phrasal adjectives that should language can be maintained indefinitely a. Has taken on both sides of the word 'bimonthly. means occurring once a month closing... Hyphen or not, check your preferred dictionary and serious English language enthusiasts once two. Officially accepted but it is good that we are unclear about whether you are saying your... Month might be officially accepted but it is in two of what to look up doublespeak.... Why did the Soviets not shoot down US spy satellites during the Cold War semimonthly you... Adjectives that should the answer, I agree with and understand that noun otherwise. Semi- prefix when applied to a biweekly or bimonthly publication, you may visit `` cookie Settings '' to a! Difference between the bi- and semi- occurs because both prefixes are related to the,... Time in its development Pacific Ocean, are dealing with a steady once a month hyphenated are related the... Said that to avoid confusion, you presented a very well-written argument anyone else see the contradictions these! For 10 years most definite meanings cookies in the meaning of the pond phenomena, do.