Semi-Weekly Vs Bi-Weekly: Which One To Use In Your Sentences?

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English grammar can be confusing when you don’t know the correct meaning and usage of certain words and phrases. 

To ensure you are using the right words in the right context, you need to have a comprehensive knowledge. So, it is important to know their exact usage. 

For instance, the term “Semiweekly” is often confused with “Biweekly”. Even though the terms have significant differences, they are used interchangeably. 

But using them in the wrong context can take away the meaning of your sentence. So, how to know which one to use for what context? 

Worry not, I have got you covered. To help out my fellow grammar buddies, I have brought a curated article delving into the battle— semiweekly vs biweekly. 

So, without further ado, let’s get started! 

What Is The Meaning Of “Semi Weekly”?

Before diving into which one to use, you need to know the specific meaning of both the terms— “Semiweekly” and “Biweekly”. 

Definition

The word “Semiweekly” refers to something happening twice a week. Since ‘semi’ means literally the ‘half’ of something, the term divides the week into two parts. 

Moreover, this term is generally used to refer to something happening once every half of the week. So, by adding it up, it becomes twice a week. 

When To Use “Semi-Weekly”?

The term “Semiweekly” is usually used when you want to explain how many times something occurs in a week.  

So, when something is happening two times within a week, you can use the term “Semiweekly” to describe it. 

Furthermore, you can use this term both as an adjective as well as an adverb in your sentences. 

• Adjective: As an adjective, it is used to describe something (noun) that is happening twice a week. 

Example: The new airline announced its semiweekly flights to Mumbai. 

• Adverb: And, as an adverb, it is used to further describe the action (verb) that is happening twice a week. 

Example: You can watch the series as it is aired semiweekly. 

Examples Of “Semi-Weekly” In Sentences

Here are some examples of “Semiweekly” used in sentences.

1. The semiweekly meetings take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

2. He delivers the semiweekly newspaper to our house. 

3. She comes semiweekly to the clinic to get her treatment. 

4. The bank allows money withdrawal semiweekly. 

5. Our professor asked us to submit our semiweekly reports on time. 

What Is The Meaning Of “Bi-Weekly”?

Even though both “Semiweekly” and “Biweekly” are used as synonyms, they do not refer to the same meaning. 

Definition

Unlike the word “Semiweekly “, “Biweekly” refers to something happening once every two weeks. So, it indicates the occurrence of something only once in a fortnight. 

Moreover, the prefix ‘bi’ means ‘two’. So, when it is used before ‘week’, it means two weeks. And, “Biweekly” as a whole means something occurring once in two weeks. 

When To Use “Bi-Weekly”?

Generally, the term “Biweekly” is used when you want to refer to something happening once every two weeks. 

Furthermore, you can use the term both as an adjective and as an adverb in your sentences. 

• Adjective: It is used as an adjective to describe something (noun) that occurs only once in two weeks. 

Example: Did you check the biweekly law reports aired yesterday?. 

• Adverb: Moreover, as an adverb, it is used to further describe the action (verb) that is happening one time in two weeks. 

Example: You can hold the class meetings biweekly. 

Examples Of “Bi Weekly” In Sentences

Here are some examples of “Biweekly” used in your sentences. 

1. I just received a copy of my favorite biweekly magazine. 

2. You can try adding some ongoing anime content to your biweekly blog site. 

3. Sarah receives her salary biweekly. 

4. They decided to go to the beach with the family biweekly. 

5. Did you get the biweekly meeting scheduled for today? 

Semi-Weekly Vs Bi-Weekly: Key Differences

Although both “Semiweekly “ and “Biweekly” are used for the same context, the terms have some key differences. Some of these are: 

Semi-Weekly	Bi-Weekly
Used to refer to something occurring twice a week.	Used to refer to something occurring once every two weeks.
‘Semi’ means ‘half’.	2.  ‘Bi’ means ‘two’.
Example: We had to submit our semiweekly projects.	3.  Example: Your biweekly check will be issued every other Monday.

Tips To Use “Semi-Weekly” And “Bi-Weekly” In The Correct Sense

Now that you have a comprehensive understanding of the two separate terms, you can use them properly.  

However, to ensure you are using them in the correct sense, here are some tips to keep in mind. 

Firstly, if you are trying to refer to something happening twice every week, you need to use the term “Semiweekly”. This will help in communicating the context correctly. 

Secondly, when you want to refer to something occurring once every other week or a fortnight, you should use the term “Biweekly”. It will be perfect for this context. 

Finally, you need to understand the context, time, and actions before deciding which one to use in your sentences.  

With this in mind, you can easily use these confusing terms in their correct sense and meaning. So, go ahead and end this confusion battle between “Semiweekly “ and “Biweekly” by using them in the right sense and at the right time!

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