quarterly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "quarterly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as an adverb, adjective, or noun to refer to something that happens or happened once every three months (every quarter-year). Example sentence: The company publishes a quarterly financial report to keep shareholders up to date on its performance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He adds: "Sales volumes are currently so low that the monthly house price statistics from any one single lender are virtually meaningless, and if you look at Nationwide's latest quarterly data, it in fact shows a 4% decline on the previous quarter".

The Guardian - Business

Paul Polman, chief executive of Unilever, who has joined the B Team, has for several years been critical of the tyranny of quarterly earnings reports and famously said he no longer wanted short term investors to buy shares in the company.

The Guardian

Labour came a close second - only a few stories behind the Tories - according to Propeller Marketing Communications, which carried out the quarterly survey.

The Guardian

Its stellar quarterly growth figures contrasted sharply with the dire fortunes of high street chain French Connection, which now expects to plunge into the red this year.

The Guardian - Business

This is the second voluntary publication of campaign donations by Yes Scotland and comes days before the SNP reveals its latest donors in an Electoral Commission quarterly report.

The Guardian

The government's new guardian of financial stability is expected to warn that the eurozone crisis is the main threat to confidence as it gives its quarterly update on the health of the financial system on Wednesday.

The Guardian - Business

Simon Kirby, principal research fellow at the thinktank, said 0.7% was still a reasonable quarterly increase.

The Guardian - Business

An hour after the labour market data, the Bank's governor Mark Carney presents policymakers' latest outlook for the economy in the quarterly Inflation Report.

The Guardian

The FPC's quarterly update – due on Wednesday – follows warnings from the International Monetary Fund last week that risks in the financial system were increasing.

The Guardian - Business

Cameron used the quarterly meeting of his business advisory group to urge big firms to back his push for international action to crack down on the use of tax havens.

The Guardian - Tech

Lloyd Blankfein, the bank's chief executive, said he was pleased with the results, which showed the highest quarterly revenues in its investment banking arm since 2007 and the highest revenues in its equity division for clients since 2010.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "quarterly" in financial contexts, ensure clarity regarding the specific fiscal or calendar quarter being referenced. For example, specify "Q1 2025" or "first fiscal quarter".

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating whether you're referring to calendar quarters (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, etc.) or fiscal quarters, which may vary depending on the organization.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "quarterly" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a recurrence or timeframe of three months. It can also function as an adverb, as confirmed by Ludwig, specifying how often something occurs. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in describing "quarterly reports" or "quarterly growth".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

35%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quarterly" is a versatile term primarily used as an adjective or adverb to denote events, reports, or payments that occur every three months. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage in various contexts, including news, business, and science. To ensure clarity, especially in financial settings, it is crucial to specify whether you are referring to calendar or fiscal quarters. Related phrases like "every three months" or "once per quarter" can be used as alternatives to prevent repetition. Understanding the contexts and nuances of "quarterly" ensures its effective and accurate use in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every three months

Replaces "quarterly" with a more explicit timeframe description.

once per quarter

Emphasizes the frequency of occurrence within each quarter.

three-monthly

Uses an adjective form to describe something occurring every three months.

every fiscal quarter

Specifies the type of quarter being referenced, often in a business context.

at three-month intervals

Describes the regularity of events with a focus on the interval.

per quarter year

Explicitly states the timeframe as a fraction of a year.

four times a year

Highlights the total occurrences within a year.

seasonal

Describes a pattern relating to the four seasons, implying a similar frequency.

interim

Refers to a period between major reporting periods, relevant in financial contexts.

periodic

Indicates events occurring at regular intervals, though not specifically quarterly.

FAQs

How is "quarterly" used in financial reports?

In financial reports, "quarterly" describes data or events that occur every three months, such as "quarterly earnings" or "quarterly revenue", providing stakeholders with regular updates on the company's financial performance.

What's the difference between "quarterly" and monthly reports?

"Quarterly" reports summarize data every three months, offering a broader overview, while monthly reports provide more frequent, detailed information. The choice depends on the required level of granularity.

What are some alternatives to "quarterly" reports?

Depending on the context, you might use phrases like "three-monthly reports" or "per quarter reports" to convey the same meaning as "quarterly" reports.

Is it correct to use "quarterly" as an adverb?

Yes, "quarterly" can function as an adverb, meaning once every quarter. For example, "The fees are assessed quarterly."