every other weekend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every other weekend" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to weekends that occur alternately, with one weekend being skipped in between. Examples: 1. "I visit my parents every other weekend." 2. "We have joint custody, so the kids stay with me every other weekend." 3. "The company has a policy of giving employees every other weekend off." 4. "My favorite band releases a new album every other weekend." 5. "Every other weekend, we take turns hosting a game night with our friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We had every other weekend off.

The New Yorker

I've got her here every other weekend.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I was off every other weekend".

The New York Times

Helps mom on her organic farm every other weekend.

University of California, Berkeley

I want to listen to that song every other weekend".

The Guardian - Sport

That's what they run every other weekend internationally.

The New York Times - Sports

Soon they began seeing each other every other weekend.

The New York Times

Every other weekend, his two older children would visit.

The New York Times

And every other weekend, when I wasn't with my mom, he took me to Gregory's.

The New York Times

Or worse, you're leaving school every other weekend to visit your significant other.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's hard being an every-other-weekend dad.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling events or making arrangements, clarify the start date or initial weekend to avoid confusion about which weekends are included in the "every other weekend" arrangement.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating which weekend marks the beginning of the "every other weekend" schedule. For instance, specify 'starting the weekend of August 9th' to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every other weekend" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where the phrase indicates the frequency of an event, such as visits, schedules, or custody arrangements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

27%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every other weekend" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe events that occur on alternating weekends. As validated by Ludwig, it is widely used across diverse contexts, including news, academic discussions, and general conversations. The phrase's purpose is to clearly define the frequency of an event, helping establish schedules or describe recurring responsibilities. While alternatives like "alternate weekends" and "every second weekend" exist, "every other weekend" remains the most recognized and versatile choice. When using this phrase, clarify the starting weekend to avoid any potential misunderstandings. Ludwig's examples underscore its relevance in various settings, affirming its status as a standard and easily understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alternate weekends

Focuses on the alternating nature of the weekends, emphasizing the pattern.

every second weekend

Numerically specifies the frequency, providing a more precise description.

bi-weekly weekends

Uses the term 'bi-weekly' to indicate the frequency, which might be less common but still understandable.

weekends on a two-week cycle

Describes the frequency in terms of a cycle, emphasizing the recurring pattern.

weekends every fortnight

Uses 'fortnight' to specify the two-week interval, common in British English.

once every two weekends

Clarifies the frequency by stating 'once' within a two-weekend period, adding emphasis.

weekends in a rotating pattern

Implies a regular alternation of weekends, without specifying the exact frequency.

sporadic weekends

Indicates that the weekends are not consecutive but doesn't specify regularity.

off and on weekends

Suggests an irregular pattern of weekends, less structured than "every other weekend".

intermittent weekends

Highlights the occasional nature of the weekends, lacking the specific alternation.

FAQs

How can I use "every other weekend" in a sentence?

You can use "every other weekend" to describe recurring events that happen on alternating weekends. For example, "I visit my grandmother "every other weekend"" or "The children stay with their father "every other weekend"".

What's a less common alternative to "every other weekend"?

A less common but still understandable alternative is "bi-weekly weekends". However, ""every other weekend"" is more widely recognized and less prone to misinterpretation.

Is it correct to say "every second weekend" instead of "every other weekend"?

Yes, "every second weekend" is a correct and clear alternative to ""every other weekend"". Both phrases have the same meaning and are used to indicate alternating weekends.

How do I clarify which weekend the "every other weekend" schedule starts on?

To avoid confusion, specify the starting weekend explicitly. For example, say "The arrangement starts the weekend of August 8th, so the visits will be "every other weekend" from then on".