biweekly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'biweekly' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It means 'occurring every two weeks', so it can be used when discussing something that takes place or is done on a regular basis at intervals of two weeks. Example sentence: We hold biweekly meetings to discuss our progress on the project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The same applies to bimonthly and biweekly: say "every fortnight", "twice a month" or "every two months", and so on.

The Guardian

Instead I arrange an interview with Valerie Sinason who, according to the records, saw Carole for psychotherapy biweekly for eight months in 1992.

The Guardian

Back in Iganga, several members who had joined several months ago, attended every biweekly seminar, bought lots of products, and gone on recruitment drives, revealed that they had not earned any notable income either.

The Guardian

A biweekly magazine devoted to the cult is sold at most news-stands.

The Economist

In June some 30 of them began holding regular biweekly meetings—just as mainstream factions do.

The Economist

The organization published a biweekly paper, Peace by Peace, and provided for families of prisoners a bus service to and from Belfast's jails.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hayek also became a regular attendee at von Mises's biweekly seminar, passed his Habilitation (an oral examination that is a necessary step toward becoming a university teacher), and published his first book, Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle, in 1929.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Type 1 Gaucher disease may be treated by enzyme replacement therapy in which injections of imiglucerase, a synthetic analog of glucocerebrosidase that is made using recombinant DNA technology, are administered on a weekly or biweekly basis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Forbes, American business magazine owned by Forbes, Inc. Published biweekly, it features original articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hill also edited a biweekly theatrical journal, The Prompter, from 1734 to 1736.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Best known was Look (1937 71; briefly revived 1979), a popular biweekly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "biweekly", ensure your audience understands whether you mean twice a week or every two weeks, as the term can be ambiguous. Consider using clearer alternatives like "twice a week" or "every other week" to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "biweekly" if clarity is crucial. Some readers may misinterpret it to mean 'twice per week' instead of 'every two weeks'. Replace it with less ambiguous phrases like "every two weeks" or "semi-monthly" to ensure accurate communication.

Linguistic Context

The word "biweekly" functions primarily as an adjective modifying a noun to indicate frequency. It describes something that occurs either every two weeks or twice a week. As noted by Ludwig, it's important to ensure clarity due to its potential ambiguity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

34%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Reference

6%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "biweekly" is used to describe something occurring either every two weeks or twice a week. Ludwig highlights the potential ambiguity of "biweekly", which can lead to misinterpretations; therefore, it is often better to use clearer alternatives such as "every two weeks" or "twice a week". With numerous examples from news sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker, and encyclopedias like Britannica, "biweekly" is a common term in written English, though care should be taken to ensure clarity in its intended meaning. While the phrase itself is grammatically sound, its application requires careful consideration to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Every two weeks

This alternative explicitly states the frequency as a period of two weeks, clarifying the timing directly.

Every other week

This phrasing avoids the ambiguity of "biweekly" by clearly indicating alternating weeks.

Fortnightly

Synonymous with "every two weeks", this term is common in British English.

Once every fortnight

Using "fortnight" specifies a two-week period, which might be clearer for some audiences.

Each two weeks

This emphasizes the regularity of the two-week interval.

Occurring every fourteen days

This provides a precise numerical definition of the interval between occurrences.

At intervals of two weeks

This alternative clearly describes the periodic nature of the events.

Semi-monthly

This term is more commonly used in contexts where events occur roughly twice a month.

Done every second week

This alternative is simple and clearly describes an action performed at a regular cadence.

Twice a month

This alternative provides a frequency relative to the month, suitable for schedules that approximate this timing.

FAQs

What does "biweekly" actually mean?

"Biweekly" can be ambiguous; it can mean either "twice a week" or "every two weeks". To avoid confusion, it's better to use clearer phrases like "every two weeks" or "twice a week" to specify the intended meaning.

How can I use "biweekly" in a sentence?

You can use "biweekly" to describe events that occur every two weeks. For example, "The team has a "biweekly meeting" to discuss project updates."

What is a less ambiguous alternative to "biweekly"?

To avoid misunderstanding, use phrases like "every other week" or "once every two weeks" instead of "biweekly".

What's the difference between "biweekly" and "bimonthly"?

Both "biweekly" and "bimonthly" are ambiguous. "Biweekly" can mean "twice a week" or "every two weeks", while "bimonthly" can mean "twice a month" or "every two months". It's best to use specific alternatives like "twice a month" or "every two months" for clarity.