Sunday, April 15, 2007

Sunday Morning Quiz

Does the word 'bi-monthly' mean 'twice a month' or 'once in two months'?

(Now try to answer that without looking up the dictionary!)

15 comments:

Shaykhspeara Sha'ira said...

twice a month?

KAD said...

Once in two months. Twice in a month is fortnightly.

Radha said...

Well both of you are wrong :)

Afternoon Latte said...

Not "once in two months"?
I am very intrigued and confused!

Afternoon Latte said...

Hahahahahahaha - I looked it up after I answered. Who knew!
Thanx for the Sunday morning smiles!

Prometheus said...

Once every alternate month. Or so says OED, as Prometheus remembers it. Wot?

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

every two months????

Radha said...

The correct answer is:
Bi-monthly could mean both...once in two months; or twice a month.

Shaykhspeara Sha'ira said...

Aww you sneeky woman! Uff did my head in with that one! lol

Prometheus said...

Radha, it can't mean BOTH. The consequences are tremendous. Prometheus recalls the older definition as 'twice every month'. However, this error has since been rectified. The appendage 'bi' denotes two. When applied to 'month', it means two months. And the '-ly' suffix to 'month' denotes periodicity. Ergo, it is two-monthly, or once in two months. Think 'bi-directional' or 'bi-valent'. The 'legalese' definition states 'once every alternate month', to be precise. QED?

Radha said...

"The consequences are tremendous."...??? Really? :)
Well, I have a good old non-internet dictionary at home. But since I cant link you to that, here is another option:
http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/b/b0254900.html

Al Nims Media said...

That was cool info...BTW, I have never come across a publication which comes out once in two months!

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

Another of those deficiencies in English, the language!!!

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

Was reminded of SANCTION:
1) To endorse, condone, or approve
2) To block or prohibit

Example: Congress sanctioned the motion to impose economic sanctions on Iraq

Radha said...

Well, english is a funny language! :)