every third year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'every third year' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happens regularly at three-year intervals. For example, "We hold a meeting every third year to review our progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

It could be removed by intercalating a month of 33 days every third year.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"About every third year," Bowden said, "one of us was winning the doggone thing".

The New York Times - Sports

Only every third year is such a vote binding on the directors, and this is not one of those years.

The Guardian - Opinion

On average, drought occurs in Morocco every third year, creating a volatility in agricultural production that is the main constraint on expansion in the sector.

Encyclopedia Britannica

RICK LaRUE Silver Spring, Md., April 24, 2013 The writer is working on a book, "Every Third Year: The Election Reform That Is About Time".

The New York Times

Female timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) commonly breed every third year because the female eats little during the summer of her pregnancy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

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

Human Reproduction

We only get poverty measurements every fifth year".

The Guardian

They were surveyed every year from 1979 to 1994 and then every second year.

The Economist

Just as God rested on the seventh day, I.O.U.'s get wiped out every seventh year.

The New York Times

LATVIA, LITHUANIA AND ESTONIA: BALTIC SONG AND DANCE CELEBRATIONS Large festivals are held for several days every fifth year in Estonia and Latvia and every fourth year in Lithuania.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing recurring events or schedules, use "every third year" to clearly indicate a three-year interval. For clarity, specify the starting year or reference point to avoid ambiguity about the schedule's timeline.

Common error

Avoid substituting "every third year" with phrases like "every other year" or "bi-annually", as these imply different frequencies. "Every other year" means once every two years, not three.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every third year" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate how frequently something occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is a standard and accepted form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "every third year" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase that clearly indicates an event occurs at three-year intervals. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's prevalent in scientific, news, and encyclopedic contexts, and while versatile, users should be mindful not to confuse it with similar phrases implying different frequencies. Using the phrase correctly ensures clear communication about recurring schedules or events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

triennially

This is a single-word adverb meaning happening every three years; more concise.

once every three years

This alternative is a more explicit and less idiomatic way of saying the same thing.

every three years

Omits "third" but has the same meaning.

at three-year intervals

This option emphasizes the consistent gap between occurrences.

every 36 months

Replaces "years" with a number of months, adding precision.

every three-year period

Adds the word "period" focusing on the timeframe rather than the event's frequency.

on a triennial basis

Replaces the phrase with a formal sounding equivalent.

every 3rd year

Uses the abbreviated ordinal form "3rd" instead of "third".

at intervals of three years

This phrase emphasizes the spacing of time between occurrences.

every other year

This presents a contrast, occurring more frequently than every third year.

FAQs

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

You can use "every third year" to describe events or processes that recur at three-year intervals. For example, "The conference is held "every third year"".

What's a more concise way to say "every third year"?

A more concise alternative is "triennially", which means the same as "every third year".

Is it correct to say "every three year" instead of "every third year"?

No, the correct phrasing is "every third year". "Third" indicates the ordinal position in the sequence of years, whereas "three year" describes a period of time.

How does "every third year" compare to "every other year"?

"Every third year" indicates an event that happens once every three years, while "every other year" indicates an event that happens once every two years. The intervals are different.