every alternative month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every alternative month" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or occurrence that takes place once every two months. Example: "The committee meets every alternative month to discuss ongoing projects and future plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Germinated seedlings in nursery condition were grown and ten healthy plants were selected randomly for measuring growth performance (hight and spread) and survival percentage in every alternative month January , March, May, July, September, and November).

Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Sarkozy's alternative May day Labour rally, which he initially said was a defiant celebration of "real" work versus the traditional trade union marches, had caused a political slanging match in France.

The Guardian

Gym bros across the country took to social media to express their grief, pinger prices plummeted, and Armin Van Buuren was forced to start brainstorming alternative November plans.

Vice

This unusually long leader sequence carries three potential alternative AUG start codons.

Biochemical Journal

The tetherin innate signal is mediated by a tetherin variant expressed from an alternative AUG start codon.

Cell Host and Microbe

Using a lac fusion expression vector, we confirmed that the ler gene AUG is functional for translation initiation, and we checked for translation initiation at the three alternative AUG codons.

Biochemical Journal

Sequence analysis of the matK gene from orchids identified an out-of-frame alternative AUG initiation codon upstream from the consensus initiation codon used for translation in other angiosperms.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In the present study, we have shown that one of these alternative AUG codons is functional for the initiation of translation of a two-codon ORF (open reading frame).

Biochemical Journal

Whereas two of the alternative AUG codons appear incompetent for translation initiation, we detected strong initiation at the third AUG, which is followed by one AAA codon and a UAG stop codon.

Biochemical Journal

A region with moderate sequence similarity to the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) consensus sequence (GGAGG) used for translation of some chloroplast mRNAs [ 37] was identified −31 to −28 bases upstream of the alternative AUG in Phaius tancarvilleae, Govenia sp., Cryptostylis erecta, Caladenia catenata, Spiranthes sinensis, S. vernalis, and S. cernua (Fig.  3).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In the accessions where matK was labelled as "pseudogene", we identified an alternative AUG (ATG shown in our DNA alignments) initiation codon ten nucleotides upstream and out-of-frame from the initiation codon used for matK translation in other monocots (Fig.  2a).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, especially in technical writing, consider using "once every two months" instead of "every alternative month" to avoid any ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "bi-monthly" if you mean twice a month (semi-monthly). "Bi-monthly" commonly means every two months, so use "semi-monthly" or "twice a month" for clarity when that's the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every alternative month" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the frequency or interval at which an action or event occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English, defining how often something takes place.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every alternative month" serves as a precise temporal marker, indicating an event's occurrence once every two months. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, it's less common than alternatives like "every other month" or "bi-monthly". The phrase finds its niche in scientific and news contexts, aiming for clarity and neutrality. To ensure comprehension, especially when communicating technical information, consider substituting it with "once every two months". Be wary of "bi-monthly", which, while sometimes synonymous, can also mean "twice a month", potentially causing confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every alternate month

Simply replaces 'alternative' with 'alternate', a synonym in this context, with very little differences in the meaning.

bi-monthly

This single word directly replaces the phrase, indicating something happens twice a month or every two months, depending on context.

every second month

Replaces "alternative" with "second" to convey the same meaning, emphasizing the skip in the monthly sequence.

once every two months

This alternative is a more explicit way of stating the frequency, clarifying the interval.

every other month

A more common and slightly less formal way to express the same frequency.

at two-month intervals

Focuses on the space between occurrences rather than the selection of months.

occurring every two months

This alternative emphasizes the occurrence of the event at the specified interval.

on a bimonthly basis

Rephrases the frequency as a basis of action, highlighting the regularity of the bi-monthly schedule.

every couple of months

Expresses an approximate frequency, implying a slightly less strict adherence to a precise two-month interval.

every sixth fortnight

Expresses the same frequency using fortnights as the base unit of time, instead of months.

FAQs

What does "every alternative month" mean?

The phrase "every alternative month" means that something occurs once every two months, skipping one month in between each occurrence.

What is a more common way to say "every alternative month"?

A more common way to say "every alternative month" is "every other month". Both phrases have the same meaning.

Is it correct to say "bi-monthly" instead of "every alternative month"?

While "bi-monthly" can mean "every two months", it can also mean "twice a month". To avoid ambiguity, it's best to use "every alternative month" or "once every two months" to ensure clarity.

How can I use "every alternative month" in a sentence?

You might say, "The team meetings are scheduled for "every alternative month" to allow sufficient time for project updates".