Biweekly or Bi-Weekly? Which One Should You Use?

Author:

Waqas Ashraf

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Biweekly or Bi-Weekly: When deciding between “biweekly” and “bi-weekly,” it often comes down to understanding the subtle yet essential differences in their usage.

The correct term depends on whether you prefer simplicity or specificity: “Biweekly” means every two weeks, while “bi-weekly” can be interpreted as either twice a week or once every two weeks.

Making the right choice can avoid confusion and ensure effective communication in your writing.

Table of Contents

Biweekly or Bi-Weekly:

Both “biweekly” and “bi-weekly” are technically correct, but “biweekly” is generally preferred.

Here’s a breakdown:

Biweekly: This is the more common and widely accepted spelling. It follows the standard rule of not hyphenating prefixes like “bi-” (bi-annual, bi-lingual) when they come before a word that doesn’t start with “i”.
Bi-weekly : This is grammatically correct, but less favored. The hyphen can be used for clarity when the prefix and the following word might be misread together.

Here’s when to use “biweekly”:

When referring to something that happens every two weeks.
Example: “She gets paid biweekly.”

Bi Weekly Meeting:

A “biweekly meeting” refers to a meeting that happens every two weeks. Here’s a breakdown:

Biweekly: Occurring every two weeks. This is the most common meaning of “biweekly” although it can also mean twice a week.
Meeting: A gathering of people for discussion or information exchange.

Therefore, a biweekly meeting is a regular event that takes place on a schedule with two weeks in between each meeting.

Bi Weekly Payroll:

“Biweekly payroll” refers to a system where employees are paid every two weeks.

Here’s a breakdown:

Biweekly: As discussed earlier, it means happening every two weeks.

Payroll: The system used to pay employees, including their salaries, wages, taxes, and deductions.

Here are some key points about biweekly payroll:

Frequency: Employees receive payments every two weeks (26 times a year).

Schedule: The specific days employees are paid can vary, but it’s usually on the same day every other week.
Benefits: For employees, biweekly payroll can provide a more predictable cash flow compared to monthly paychecks.
Drawbacks: For businesses, biweekly payroll can mean more frequent processing compared to monthly payroll, potentially increasing administrative costs.

Biweekly vs Fortnightly:

Feature	Biweekly	Fortnightly
Meaning	Occurring every two weeks	Occurring every two weeks
Origin	Bi- (twice) + weekly	Fortnight
Common Usage	North America	British English and some other English dialects
Clarity	Can be ambiguous	Clearer meaning
Preferred Spelling	Biweekly	Fortnightly
Example Sentence	She gets paid biweekly.	The rubbish is collected fortnightly.

Is It Biweekly or Every 2 Weeks?

Both “biweekly” and “every 2 weeks” are perfectly acceptable ways to express something happening every two weeks.

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of each:

Biweekly:

Pros: More concise, commonly used in North America.
Cons: Can be ambiguous.

Every 2 weeks:

Pros: Completely clear, avoids any confusion.
Cons: Slightly less concise.

How Do You Use Biweekly in A Sentence?

Here are some examples of how you can use “biweekly” in a sentence.

She gets paid biweekly, which means she receives a paycheck every two weeks.
The gardening service comes to mow the lawn biweekly.
We have biweekly team meetings to discuss project progress.

The trash collection in our neighborhood is done biweekly on Wednesdays.
My yoga class is offered biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Biweekly, I write a blog post to share my travel experiences.

Because of the biweekly deadlines, we need to stay organized and manage our time effectively.
I appreciate the biweekly reminders from the library about upcoming due dates for my books.

Is It Bi Weekly or Bi Monthly?

Feature	Biweekly	Bimonthly
Meaning	Occurring every two weeks	Occurring every two months
Frequency	26 times a year	6 times a year
Usage	Common in North America	More common in formal contexts or British English
Clarity	Can be ambiguous	Clearer meaning
Example Sentence	She gets a biweekly paycheck.	The magazine is published bimonthly.
Alternatives	Every other week, twice a month	Every other month, semi-monthly

What Is Once Every Two Weeks Called?

There are two main ways to refer to something that happens every two weeks:

Biweekly: This is the most common term in North America. However, it can be ambiguous because it can also mean “twice a week.”

Every two weeks: This is a completely clear way to express the idea and avoids any confusion.

Is Biweekly Every 10 Days?

No, biweekly is not exactly every 10 days. While they might seem close, there’s a slight difference:

Biweekly: This means occurring every two weeks. A week has 7 days, so biweekly translates to every 14 days (2 x 7).

Here’s why every 10 days isn’t quite biweekly:

Uneven Schedule: If something happened every 10 days, it wouldn’t fall on the same day of the week every time. Over time, the day of the week would shift.

Inaccuracy: A true biweekly schedule maintains consistency. For example, if you get paid biweekly, you always receive your paycheck on the same day of the week

Definition of Biweekly:

Biweekly means occurring once every two weeks.
This term is often used in various contexts such as payroll schedules and magazine publications.

In some cases, biweekly can also mean twice a week, so it’s essential to clarify the intended meaning based on the context.

Is Biweekly Better?

Whether biweekly is “better” depends on the context you’re considering.

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help you decide:

Advantages of Biweekly:

For Employees:

More frequent paychecks: Biweekly pay provides employees with money more often than monthly schedules. This can be helpful for budgeting and managing cash flow, especially for those living paycheck to paycheck.

For Employers:

Reduced administrative burden: Processing payroll biweekly can be less work compared to processing it weekly. This can save time and resources for the HR department.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts!

Ultimately, whether you choose to use “biweekly” or “bi-weekly” in your writing, consistency is key. Make a decision based on your personal preference or follow a specific style guide if necessary.

Both terms are widely accepted and understood, so the most important thing is to ensure that you maintain uniformity throughout your content.

By doing so, you can avoid confusion and present a polished and professional piece of work that effectively communicates your message to your audience.