5 ms·

A bicycle is not half a wheel, it is two wheels. If bi-annual is twice a year, then why does the word semi-annual exist? And I’m American, we don’t use the word

A bicycle is not half a wheel, it is two wheels. If bi-annual is twice a year, then why does the word semi-annual exist? And I’m American, we don’t use the word fortnight unless we’re pretending to be British.

benj111 7y ago
"why does the word semi-annual exist" Your parent already provided the counterpoint, Biennially. Additionally I'm not convinced by your bicycle => 2 => bi annual logic. You could equally argue it leads to 2 times a year, because it doesn't happen a half every year just like a bike doesn't have half a wheel.
- toasterlovin 7y ago
  Mostly I'm just arguing that it's ambiguous. I don't have a strong opinion, but the person I was responding to did and it seems like a silly thing to be so adamant about.
  - OJFord 7y ago
    I'm 'so adamant' about what they mean only in the same sense that I am about any other word I know the meaning of, I only meant to be helpful. For your bicycle example that I didn't reply to initially - I don't see what it breaks? Unicycles have one and tricycles three wheels. If i give you a wheel triweekly you have three by the end of the week and can build a tricycle.
    - toasterlovin 7y ago
      FWIW, regarding correct usage: the dictionary on my computer (Oxford American English) lists both meanings of biweekly and does not put either meaning forward as more correct. It even has a whole entry on the ambiguity of the 'bi' prefix.
      - benj111 7y ago
        I can confirm that the proper OED has the same definition. "Bi- 2a occurring twice in every one or once in every two (biweekly)" Biannual is only defined as occurring twice a year though. So, inflammable.
OJFord 7y ago
> then why does the word semi-annual exist My large Collins dictionary suggests that biannual means twice per year, while semi-annual has more of a hint at 'six-monthly', i.e. evenly space (which makes sense if you think semi-circle, semi-detached, etc.). > And I’m American, we don’t use the word fortnight unless we’re pretending to be British. Ah well there's the problem! ;) But well, yes, of course if you remove the word for something from your vocabulary there's going to be ambiguity when a similar one is used. Or just stick to 'every [other] week' and remove biweekly too.

benj111 7y ago

"why does the word semi-annual exist" Your parent already provided the counterpoint, Biennially. Additionally I'm not convinced by your bicycle => 2 => bi annual logic. You could equally argue it leads to 2 times a year, because it doesn't happen a half every year just like a bike doesn't have half a wheel.

toasterlovin 7y ago
Mostly I'm just arguing that it's ambiguous. I don't have a strong opinion, but the person I was responding to did and it seems like a silly thing to be so adamant about.
- OJFord 7y ago
  I'm 'so adamant' about what they mean only in the same sense that I am about any other word I know the meaning of, I only meant to be helpful. For your bicycle example that I didn't reply to initially - I don't see what it breaks? Unicycles have one and tricycles three wheels. If i give you a wheel triweekly you have three by the end of the week and can build a tricycle.
  - toasterlovin 7y ago
    FWIW, regarding correct usage: the dictionary on my computer (Oxford American English) lists both meanings of biweekly and does not put either meaning forward as more correct. It even has a whole entry on the ambiguity of the 'bi' prefix.
    - benj111 7y ago
      I can confirm that the proper OED has the same definition. "Bi- 2a occurring twice in every one or once in every two (biweekly)" Biannual is only defined as occurring twice a year though. So, inflammable.

OJFord 7y ago

> then why does the word semi-annual exist My large Collins dictionary suggests that biannual means twice per year, while semi-annual has more of a hint at 'six-monthly', i.e. evenly space (which makes sense if you think semi-circle, semi-detached, etc.). > And I’m American, we don’t use the word fortnight unless we’re pretending to be British. Ah well there's the problem! ;) But well, yes, of course if you remove the word for something from your vocabulary there's going to be ambiguity when a similar one is used. Or just stick to 'every [other] week' and remove biweekly too.