Does the word 'bi-monthly' mean 'twice a month' or 'once in two months'?
(Now try to answer that without looking up the dictionary!)
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15 comments:
twice a month?
Once in two months. Twice in a month is fortnightly.
Well both of you are wrong :)
Not "once in two months"?
I am very intrigued and confused!
Hahahahahahaha - I looked it up after I answered. Who knew!
Thanx for the Sunday morning smiles!
Once every alternate month. Or so says OED, as Prometheus remembers it. Wot?
every two months????
The correct answer is:
Bi-monthly could mean both...once in two months; or twice a month.
Aww you sneeky woman! Uff did my head in with that one! lol
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?
"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
That was cool info...BTW, I have never come across a publication which comes out once in two months!
Another of those deficiencies in English, the language!!!
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
Well, english is a funny language! :)
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