fortnightly

USAGE SUMMARY

'fortnightly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that occurs every two weeks. For example: "We have a fortnightly meeting to discuss our progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The menu changes fortnightly, making it the kind of place you want to return to again and again.

The Guardian - Travel

The day after the mX announcement, news came that Rupert Murdoch's Australian arm was effectively shutting down the fortnightly Newspoll.

The Guardian

Bournemouth have hosted eye‑catching opposition in cup ties in recent times but, next season, the elite will visit on a near fortnightly basis.

The Guardian - Sport

Newspoll, published fortnightly in the Australian, drives much of the political coverage in the Australian media.

The Guardian

In the national sample surveyed, frequency of ice use increased from fortnightly to close to weekly.

The Guardian

By contrast, the cost of community processing was estimated at between $7 and $39 per asylum seeker a day, based on the current Asylum Seeker Assistance scheme fortnightly payment.

The Guardian - Opinion

According to the team, they've even been attended by the odd banker … Three tours are currently on offer, two monthly and one fortnightly.

The Guardian - Travel

Ahead of each fortnightly iteration the BAs would specify the forthcoming fortnight's tasks in much greater detail, sufficient to be implemented.

The Guardian

Admittedly, the roller disco's heyday fizzled out somewhere around the end of the 70s, but there are still plenty of retro-themed discos for you to wheel yourself into fitness, such as the fortnightly Birmingham Roller Disco at the Custard Factory (£5).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Please note, if you do not receive an autoreply when you send your email, we have not received it so do try again! when we have received your email and all the paperwork is done, we will keep in touch with you via the children's site and a fortnightly newsletter which will have all the latest news and opportunities coming up, from free books to meeting authors.

The Guardian - Books

A council in Greater Manchester is to be the first in England to start collecting wheelie bins only once every three weeks, scrapping the current fortnightly collection.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fortnightly" to add variety to your writing when referring to events happening every two weeks, instead of repeatedly using "every two weeks".

Common error

Ensure you're using "fortnightly" to describe something happening every two weeks, not every month. A monthly event occurs once a month, while a "fortnightly" event happens twice a month.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fortnightly" is as an adverb modifying a verb to indicate how often an action occurs. It can also function as an adjective describing something that happens every two weeks, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fortnightly" is a useful term to indicate something occurs every two weeks. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. While synonyms like "biweekly" and "every two weeks" exist, "fortnightly" offers a concise alternative. Use it to enhance clarity and avoid repetitiveness in writing. Be mindful of potential confusion with monthly occurrences. Its prevalent use in news, encyclopedias, and formal business settings underscores its versatility and acceptance in professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every two weeks

Emphasizes the bi-weekly occurrence explicitly.

biweekly

A more concise synonym for "fortnightly".

semi-monthly

Highlights the occurrence twice a month.

twice-monthly

Clearly states the frequency as two times per month.

every other week

Specifies the interval in terms of weeks.

occurring at intervals of two weeks

A more formal and descriptive alternative.

at a frequency of once every two weeks

Provides a detailed explanation of the timing.

on a biweekly basis

Uses 'basis' to denote the recurring nature.

every fourteenth day

More precise and literal, referring to the exact day count.

at a fourteen-day interval

Highlights the duration of the interval.

FAQs

How do you use "fortnightly" in a sentence?

You can use "fortnightly" to describe events that happen every two weeks. For example, "The committee holds a "fortnightly" meeting to review project progress."

What's a simple substitute for "fortnightly"?

A direct substitute for "fortnightly" is "every two weeks". It conveys the same meaning in a more explicit way.

Is "biweekly" the same as "fortnightly"?

Yes, "biweekly" and "fortnightly" are often used interchangeably to mean every two weeks. However, "biweekly" can sometimes be ambiguous, also meaning twice a week, while "fortnightly" always means every two weeks.

What is the difference between "fortnightly" and "semi-monthly"?

"Fortnightly" refers to something happening every two weeks. "Semi-monthly" means twice a month, which isn't always exactly every two weeks due to varying month lengths.