every alternative week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every alternative week" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that happens in a repeating sequence of two weeks. For example, "I see my best friend every alternative week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Every alternative week, this text message will be sent on Saturdays at 7 pm, and during the other weeks, it will be sent on individual's typical drinking day and time (e.g. Friday at 10 pm).

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Lowering the effective DEX concentration by alternative week rather than continuous treatment in a 21 day-long delayed intensification phase has been shown to significantly reduce osteonecrosis among high risk chALL patients (specifically those over 16 years of age) [ 14].

BMC Genomics

If you are flexible about the date of your stay, investigate different days of the week or an alternative week.

WikiHow

The Guardian's alternative chip week, where I try your suggestions for new versions of the potato chip, reaches the end of the road.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In 2009, an alternative fashion week event, Content, was held at the Ace Hotel in Portland, Ore., to expose the work of that city's remarkable but somewhat isolated crop of independent designers.

The New York Times

This year, Halifax's Dalhousie University had their first alternative orientation week named "Dreaming in Colour" hosted by the Black, Indigenous & People of Colour Caucus in partnership with the NSCAD University student union and Kings College student union.

Vice

In future, people who want to wriggle out of jury service should be required to give an alternative two-week period in which they are prepared to serve.

The Economist

Educators are eager for the extra class hours, while many parents who work full-time, particularly in low-income families, consider summer school a safe productive alternative to weeks spent idly watching television or roaming city streets.

The New York Times

This can be done the day of planting, which makes it a quick alternative to weeks of adding organic matter.

WikiHow

In recent years, Dudgeon, who claimed to see three bands perform live every week, worked with alternative rock artists, such as XTC, The Frank And Walters and Menswear, and managed a band, Slinki Malinki.

The Guardian

A couple of weeks earlier, a local alternative paper, Willamette Week, ran a big picture of a guy drinking P.B.R. at the Lutz Tavern, with a blurb that mocked "middle-class, college-educated, salaried Portland hipsters" for drinking P.B.R., and raised the connection to Miller Brewing: "It's totally not indie rock!

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is crucial, consider using "once every two weeks" instead of "biweekly" to avoid any ambiguity, as "biweekly" can sometimes be misinterpreted as twice a week.

Common error

Avoid using "biweekly" when you mean twice a week (semiweekly). "Biweekly" typically means "every two weeks." If you intend to express twice a week, use "semiweekly" or clearly state "twice a week."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every alternative week" functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency, modifying a verb to indicate how often an action occurs. As Ludwig AI states, it describes something happening in a repeating sequence of two weeks.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every alternative week" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating an event that occurs once every two weeks. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While examples are limited, "every alternative week" finds usage across scientific, news, and general contexts. For greater clarity, especially in formal settings, "once every two weeks" may be preferable. Also be cautious not to confuse it with "semiweekly", which means twice per week.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

biweekly

A single word that concisely means occurring every two weeks.

once every two weeks

More explicit and avoids ambiguity about whether 'biweekly' means twice a week or every two weeks.

every fortnight

Uses 'fortnight,' a synonym for two weeks, common in British English.

every second week

Emphasizes the skipping of one week in the sequence.

on alternate weeks

Focuses on the alternation between weeks when something occurs.

every other seven days

Highlights the specific duration of the period between occurrences.

at two-week intervals

Specifies the gap between each instance of the event.

occurring every two weeks

Verbal form emphasizes the action happening at the defined interval.

a two-week periodic event

Treats the occurrence as a regular, repeating event with a set period.

every 14 days

Uses a direct numerical value to specify the frequency.

FAQs

What does "every alternative week" mean?

The phrase "every alternative week" means something happens once every two weeks. It indicates a recurring event with a two-week interval.

What is a synonym for "every alternative week"?

A common synonym for "every alternative week" is "biweekly". However, be aware that "biweekly" can sometimes be misinterpreted, so clarity is key.

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

You can use "every alternative week" to describe a recurring event with a two-week interval, like: "The garbage is collected every alternative week."

Is there any difference between "every alternative week" and "every other week"?

The phrases "every alternative week" and "every other week" are interchangeable and have the same meaning. Both indicate something occurring once every two weeks.