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Myr

Myr 32,543

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For those that didn't explore the more information link... probably depending on where you are, they use:

  • Semi-annual for 2x a year
  • Biennial - for every two years.

 

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Carlos Hazday

Carlos Hazday 115,568

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I'm sticking with my comment, Myr.

Biannual is twice a year (same as semiannual)

Biennial is every two years.

And as I told you, I did follow your link when I realized the definition was wrong.

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Valkyrie

Valkyrie 109,988

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2 hours ago, Myr said:

For those that didn't explore the more information link... probably depending on where you are, they use:

  • Semi-annual for 2x a year
  • Biennial - for every two years.

 

Where I work, we write semi-annual reviews of progress (every six months) and complete bi-annual re-assessments every two years.  

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Aditus

Aditus 28,744

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1 hour ago, Carlos Hazday said:

I'm sticking with my comment, Myr.

Biannual is twice a year (same as semiannual)

Biennial is every two years.

And as I told you, I did follow your link when I realized the definition was wrong.

I agree. Annual means once a year.  Ergo, biannual means twice a year. The Biennale in Venice happens every two years. ("biennial"  is Italian for "every other year)

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Daddydavek

Daddydavek 42,351

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I pay my GA invoice biannually, not biennially.  My much thumbed,  "The New Merriam-Webster Dictionary"  (Brand-New 1989 Edition Paperback)  confirms biannual means occurring twice per year.  Biennial means taking place once in two years. 

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Brayon

Brayon 40,934

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1 hour ago, Myr said:

Dictionary.com says both. See link.  *shrugs*  As I said to @Carlos Hazday, it's probably also a regional thing as well as both @Valkyrieand I are near each other in the "Inland Northern" dialect region.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/12/02/what-dialect-to-do-you-speak-a-map-of-american-english/

Interesting article. Though it did leave out that the further South in Florida you go, the more Northerner you become. I would love to see what influence those snowbirds have had in Miami.

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Backwoods Boy

Backwoods Boy 13,281

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I saw this in use a couple of days ago.  I wish I could remember where because it posed the same unsolvable ambiguity as shown in the information link.  Unless you're a lawyer or a politician, why use a word that has two opposite meanings? 

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drpaladin

drpaladin 81,647

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1 hour ago, Backwoods Boy said:

I saw this in use a couple of days ago.  I wish I could remember where because it posed the same unsolvable ambiguity as shown in the information link.  Unless you're a lawyer or a politician, why use a word that has two opposite meanings? 

For the same reason, to say something which can mean whatever is convenient at a particular time.

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Backwoods Boy

Backwoods Boy 13,281

Posted

10 hours ago, drpaladin said:

For the same reason, to say something which can mean whatever is convenient at a particular time.

I guess I spent too much time doing technical writing where the objective was to clarify, not not obfuscate.

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