every two years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every two years" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe an event that happens periodically with an interval of two years between each occurrence. For example: "The company holds a meeting every two years to review its strategic plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Congressional ballots are held every two years.

The Economist

"It only happens every two years.

Independent

Cows produce a calf every two years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Every two years, it updates its projections.

The Economist

A new phone every two years.

The New York Times

(Elections are held every two years).

The New Yorker

In the beginning, every two years.

The New York Times

Partners are chosen every two years.

The New York Times

I go every two years.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It is given every two years.

Princeton University

It is typically held every two years.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing recurring events, use "every two years" to clearly indicate a biennial frequency. For example, "The conference is held every two years."

Common error

Avoid confusing "every two years" with "twice a year". The first means once every 24 months, while the second means two times within a 12-month period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every two years" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies the frequency with which an action or event occurs. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Academia

28%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every two years" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something occurs once every 24 months. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable in various contexts, including academic, scientific, and general communication. Its primary function is to indicate periodicity, providing a temporal reference for how often an event takes place. Related phrases include "biennially" and "every other year". Remember to use "every two years" to clearly indicate a biennial frequency and avoid confusion with phrases like "twice a year".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

biennially

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

every other year

This alternative emphasizes the alternating nature of the occurrence.

once in two years

This alternative stresses the infrequency of the event.

every second year

This phrase uses an ordinal number to represent periodicity.

at two-year intervals

This specifies the gap between each occurrence more explicitly.

occurring every 24 months

This uses a specific time frame for increased precision.

with a two-year frequency

This rephrases the expression by highlighting the rate of occurrence.

lasting two years

This emphasizes the duration instead of the frequency.

a two-year cycle

This frames the event as part of a repeating pattern.

two-year period

This alternative refers to a duration of time rather than an event frequency.

FAQs

How can I use "every two years" in a sentence?

You can use "every two years" to describe events that happen biennially. For instance, "The organization hosts a major event "every two years"".

What's a single-word substitute for "every two years"?

A single-word substitute for "every two years" is "biennially". For example, the conference is held "biennially".

Is it correct to say "each two years" instead of "every two years"?

While understandable, "each two years" is less common and idiomatic than "every two years". "Every two years" is the preferred and more natural phrasing.

What's the difference between "every two years" and "twice a year"?

"Every two years" means once every 24 months, whereas "twice a year" means two times within 12 months. They describe different frequencies.