Biweekly vs Bimonthly Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on biweekly vs bimonthly. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
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Every two weeks (or, less often, twice a week).
“The team meets biweekly on Fridays.”
Every two months (or, less often, twice a month).
“The magazine is published bimonthly.”
Twice a month.
“Employees are paid semimonthly, on the 1st and 15th.”
Every two weeks.
“The newsletter goes out fortnightly.”
People mix up biweekly vs bimonthly because the prefix “bi-” can mean either “every two” or “twice,” and dictionaries accept both readings. That means a single word can describe two very different schedules, which is a real problem for deadlines, paydays and meetings.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biweekly | Every two weeks; also, twice a week | Adjective and adverb / frequency | Our biweekly check-in is every other Tuesday. |
| Bimonthly | Every two months; also, twice a month | Adjective and adverb / frequency | The club holds bimonthly meetings in January, March and May. |
| Semiweekly | Twice a week | Adjective and adverb / frequency | The class meets semiweekly, on Monday and Thursday. |
| Semimonthly | Twice a month | Adjective and adverb / frequency | Staff are paid semimonthly. |
| Fortnightly | Every two weeks | Adjective and adverb / frequency (common in British English) | The committee meets fortnightly. |
What does biweekly mean?
Biweekly most commonly means every two weeks. Dictionaries also list a second meaning, twice a week, which is why the word is considered ambiguous.
In practice, “biweekly” in payroll and scheduling usually means every two weeks. A biweekly paycheck typically arrives 26 times a year, once every other week. If you want to say twice a week, the clearer word is “semiweekly.”
What does bimonthly mean?
Bimonthly most commonly means every two months, but it can also mean twice a month. Dictionaries record both senses.
A bimonthly magazine usually appears six times a year. The word “semimonthly” is the clearer choice for twice a month, and it is common in payroll, where a semimonthly schedule typically means 24 paychecks a year.
Biweekly vs bimonthly: which should you use?
Use either word only when the context makes the meaning obvious. Otherwise, spell the schedule out. “Every two weeks,” “every two months,” “twice a week” and “twice a month” cannot be misread.
The prefix “semi-” means half, so it points to twice as often. Semiweekly means twice a week and semimonthly means twice a month. If you want a single word for every two weeks, “fortnightly” is unambiguous, though it sounds more British than American.
Why are biweekly and bimonthly confusing?
The prefix “bi-” comes from Latin and means two. English speakers apply it in two ways: two of something within a period (twice), or one event spread across two periods (every two). Both uses became established, so the words kept both meanings.
The same ambiguity shows up in “biannual” and “biennial.” Biannual means twice a year, while biennial means every two years. Even so, many people use the two interchangeably, which is another reason to spell frequencies out.
How can you remember the difference?
Link “semi-” to “half” and “bi-” to “every other.” If you need to be exact, skip the shortcuts and write the schedule in plain words.
Common mistakes with biweekly vs bimonthly
- ✗ Payday is bimonthly. (Unclear: twice a month or every two months?)
✓ Payday is semimonthly, on the 1st and 15th. - ✗ We meet biweekly. (Unclear: every two weeks or twice a week?)
✓ We meet every two weeks. - ✗ Semiweekly means every two weeks.
✓ Semiweekly means twice a week. - ✗ Our bimonthly newsletter comes out on the 1st and 15th. (Unclear)
✓ Our semimonthly newsletter comes out on the 1st and 15th. - ✗ The class is biweekly, so it meets on Monday and Thursday. (Unclear)
✓ The class is semiweekly and meets on Monday and Thursday.
Memory tricks
- Semi = half. Cut the period in half and the event happens twice: semiweekly is twice a week, semimonthly is twice a month.
- Bi = every other. Think of “every other week” or “every other month” as the usual meaning of biweekly and bimonthly.
- When in doubt, spell it out. “Every two weeks” never needs a dictionary.
Frequently asked questions
Does biweekly mean twice a week or every two weeks?
Biweekly usually means every two weeks, but it can also mean twice a week. Because both meanings are accepted, it is safest to say every two weeks or twice a week.
Does bimonthly mean twice a month or every two months?
Bimonthly usually means every two months, but it can also mean twice a month. To be clear, say every two months or twice a month.
What is the difference between biweekly and semimonthly pay?
Biweekly pay usually means a paycheck every two weeks, or 26 a year. Semimonthly pay means twice a month, typically 24 paychecks a year.
What word means every two weeks without confusion?
Fortnightly means every two weeks and has no second meaning. It is more common in British English, so in American English many writers simply say every two weeks.
What is the difference between biannual and biennial?
Biannual means twice a year, while biennial means every two years. The two are easy to mix up, so the plain-language versions are often clearer.
Conclusion
The biweekly vs bimonthly question has no single answer, because both words can mean every two periods or twice per period. Use semiweekly and semimonthly for twice, or just write the schedule out. Share this with someone who mixes these two up.