twice-yearly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "twice-yearly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something which happens, or is done, twice throughout the year. For example, "We hold a twice-yearly event in which all of our staff present their work to the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Twice-yearly cleanings?

Independent

Also host to the twice-yearly London Calling festival.

The Guardian - Music

"They're from our twice-yearly Italian Event," she said.

The New York Times

"I want to let the runway speak for my major, twice-yearly messages".

The New York Times

Instead of "testing when ready" they will, in practice, simply be twice-yearly tests.

The Guardian

First, Underwood, "a twice-yearly publication produced as a vinyl LP".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Twice yearly, inflation-busting increases have also become the norm over the past two years.

The Guardian - Money

The director must report to Congress on its activities twice yearly.

The New York Times

I had to be checked twice yearly from the age of seven to see if I was developing cancer.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(There are no membership requirements; application forms for the grants, which are awarded twice yearly, are available online at loanet.mit.edu).edu

The New York Times - Arts

A cross-sectional house-to-house survey was repeated twice yearly.

Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "twice-yearly" to clearly indicate events or actions that happen two times within a year, ensuring precision in your communication. For instance, "The company conducts twice-yearly performance reviews."

Common error

Avoid using "twice-yearly" when you mean something that happens every two years (biennial). "Twice-yearly" means two times a year; biennial means every two years.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "twice-yearly" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that occurs two times per year. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is correct and readily usable in written English. The examples show it modifying words such as "cleanings", "festival", and "messages".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

20%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "twice-yearly" is a commonly used adjective that means happening two times a year. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings, "twice-yearly" serves to clearly indicate frequency. For example, one might say, "The company conducts "twice-yearly" performance reviews." Related terms include "semi-annual" and "biannual". Remember to avoid confusing it with "biennial", which means every two years. Using "twice-yearly" correctly enhances precision in both written and spoken communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

semi-annual

Replaces "twice-yearly" with a single word indicating the same frequency, simplifying the expression.

biannual

Another single-word synonym for "twice-yearly", offering a more concise alternative.

twice per year

A slightly less formal alternative, maintaining the same meaning with a minor word order change.

occurring two times a year

Breaks down "twice-yearly" into a descriptive phrase, clarifying the frequency explicitly.

bi-yearly

A shortened, hyphenated version that's less common but still understood.

happening every six months

Specifies the interval between occurrences, providing a clearer understanding of the frequency.

every half-year

Focuses on the half-year interval, emphasizing the separation between occurrences.

every six months period

Adds a bit more context defining each occurrence interval.

two times per annum

A more formal way of saying "twice a year", suitable for professional or academic contexts.

performed two times annually

Emphasizes the performance or action aspect of something occurring twice a year.

FAQs

How can I use "twice-yearly" in a sentence?

You can use "twice-yearly" to describe events, check-ups, or publications that occur two times a year. For example, "We have "twice-yearly meetings" to discuss project progress."

What is a synonym for "twice-yearly"?

A synonym for "twice-yearly" is "semi-annual" or "biannual". These terms are often interchangeable.

Is "twice-yearly" the same as "bi-yearly"?

Yes, "twice-yearly" and "bi-yearly" generally mean the same thing: occurring two times per year.

What's the difference between "twice-yearly" and "every other year"?

"Twice-yearly" means happening two times within one year, while "every other year" (or biennial) means happening once every two years. They describe different frequencies.