biweekly

[dowie]

Sorry to disappoint but this isn’t a thread about a magazine for bisexuals.

Do you interpret the word biweekly to mean once every two weeks or twice a week?

 

[The_Abyss]

This shouldn't even be a question.

Once every two weeks is the answer that you're looking for. Otherwise it would have been twice weekly.

 

[Gray2233]

Once every two weeks.

https://www.lexico.com/definition/biweekly

Apparently it can mean either, although I've never heard anyone use it in the twice weekly context.

 

[Maccy]

Could you not have googled this one?

 

[Hagar]

It appears to mean either, confusingly.

 

[Zeb67]

Working with non native speakers, this can be a minefield

 

[The_Abyss]

Working with non native speakers, this can be a minefield

A minefield that's as challenging as "there's a mine, avoid it every time you hear the phrase bi weekly".

 

[dowie]

Could you not have googled this one?

Yes I could, there are two definitions out there as per the question in the OP.

I know how I’d interpret it, I’m curious to see how many others interpret it in the same way.

So far it seems one poster has a hard view on one and might be unaware that this is even a possible question, at least he thinks it shouldn’t be. Someone else is aware it can mean both but has gone with the same answer.

Poll possible? I’m assuming fortnightly/every two weeks will dominate.

 

[Russinating]

Once a fortnight.

 

[Dis86]

It can mean either. I tend to use it to mean twice a week. Otherwise I'd say fortnightly for once every two weeks.

 

[Freakbro]

It's the same for monthly and annually too.

I tend not to use it and specify which I mean, to save the confusion

 

[Roar87]

It can mean either. I tend to use it to mean twice a week. Otherwise I'd say fortnightly for once every two weeks.

This. It's weird though.

 

[HoneyBadger]

I interpret biweekly as one every two weeks. Twice weekly is the alternative.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

...every two weeks or twice a week.

 

[Marky]

Once every two weeks.

 

[Surveyor]

It generally means once every two weeks but in the UK it carries both meanings. For clarity it's better to say fortnighly or once every two weeks.

 

[cheesyboy]

UK English has the word Fortnight, so we don't need bi-weekly.

US English doesn't have Fortnight, so they can deal with the confusion

 

[Em3bbs]

Once every two weeks, but I've had colleagues who have thought it meant twice in a week.

 

[Lopéz]

Working with non native speakers, this can be a minefield

Try telling them you'll meet at "half seven" and watch the confusion.

 

[Hagar]

My wife thinks it means once a fortnight, my girlfriend knows otherwise.

 

[dowie]

My wife thinks it means once a fortnight, my girlfriend knows otherwise.