every fourth year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'every fourth year' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to something that occurs in a pattern of every four years, for example: "The Olympic Games take place every fourth year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

They are evaluated annually and also in-depth every fourth year.

Futures

To account for the extra 0.2422 days, every fourth year was made a leap year.

Cornell University

'Leap Years occurring every fourth year mean that the calendar repeats in 28-year cycles.

The Guardian

The other counties are divided into rural and urban municipalities, with councils elected every fourth year (two years after the Storting elections).

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the Gregorian calendar a common year contains 365 days, and every fourth year (with a few exceptions) is a leap year of 366 days.

Britannica

For example, leap years occur every fourth year that is not a multiple of 100 -- unless it is a multiple of 400.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

In addition, every second year (Years 3 and 5) a PAP smear and gynaecological ultrasound examination were performed.

Human Reproduction

Fertiliser was applied every year, every second year or every third year.

Forest Ecology and Management

31, 1999, and Jan . 31of every second year thereafter.

Cornell University

You vote on monetary policy only every third year.

The New York Times

We only get poverty measurements every fifth year".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "every fourth year" to clearly indicate events or occurrences that repeat in a four-year pattern. This provides a specific and easily understood timeframe.

Common error

Avoid using "every fourth year" when you mean something that happens every three years (every third year) or every five years (every fifth year). Be precise with your language to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every fourth year" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying the frequency or interval at which an action or event occurs. As confirmed by Ludwig, it clearly indicates a recurring event on a four-year cycle.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

22%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

14%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every fourth year" is a grammatically sound and clear way to express an event's recurrence on a four-year cycle, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not as common as other frequency adverbs, it is readily understood and appropriate for a variety of contexts. Predominantly found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications, it provides temporal context and clarifies the periodicity of events. For tighter, more concise writing, consider using "quadrennially" where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quadrennially

This is a single-word adverb that directly means "every four years."

once every four years

This alternative explicitly states the frequency of occurrence.

occurring every four years

This phrase emphasizes the event's recurrence over a four-year cycle.

in four-year intervals

This focuses on the duration between events.

on a four-year cycle

This highlights the cyclical nature of the event.

every olympiad

This refers to the four-year period associated with the Olympic Games.

at four-year periods

Similar to "in four-year intervals", but with slightly different phrasing.

a four-year event

This describes an event that happens and spans four years.

every presidential term

In countries with 4 year presidential terms it refers to the duration between elections.

every 48 months

Expresses the timeframe numerically in months.

FAQs

How can I use "every fourth year" in a sentence?

You can use "every fourth year" to describe events or cycles that occur with that frequency. For instance, "The World Cup takes place "every fourth year"".

What's a single-word alternative to "every fourth year"?

The adverb "quadrennially" is a concise, single-word substitute for "every fourth year".

Is it correct to say "every 4th year" instead of "every fourth year"?

While "every 4th year" is sometimes used in informal contexts, "every fourth year" is generally preferred in formal writing.

What is the difference between "every other year" and "every fourth year"?

"Every other year" means something happens once every two years, whereas "every fourth year" means it happens once every four years. They describe different frequencies. For example, you can also use alternatives like "every second year".