Comments on: biweekly vs. semiweekly http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/biweekly-vs-semiweekly/ Is your grammar as good as your code? Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:34:27 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ivy Wigmore http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/biweekly-vs-semiweekly/#comment-56 Ivy Wigmore Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:45:12 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=624#comment-56 Thanks for your comment, Steve.

I could not agree more. And, in fact, I’ve come across numerous scornful references to Merriam-Webster as an example of lowered standards. Nevertheless, they’re a recognized authority so their opinion has some weight. (That doesn’t mean we have to agree with them, though. ;) )

Best,

Ivy

]]> By: Meandyou http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/biweekly-vs-semiweekly/#comment-55 Meandyou Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:40:39 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=624#comment-55 It seems that dictionaries are lowering their standards. I realize that definitions change over time. However, it seems that dictionaries are altering definitions faster and faster. It used to be only “college” dictionaries would have changes to words based on usage (e.g. appendixes) but now it seems that even others are following suit. I am sure that electronic communication is partly to blame for this continued dumbing down of America.

Steve

]]> By: Ivy Wigmore http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/biweekly-vs-semiweekly/#comment-53 Ivy Wigmore Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:57:51 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=624#comment-53 Hi David — Thanks for taking the time to inform. How unhelpful of M-W, though! I suspect their decision is based on use. The effect is to make it impossible to know what someone means when they say “biweekly.”

I’ll edit more info into the post.

Thanks for commenting!

Ivy

]]> By: DP2000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/biweekly-vs-semiweekly/#comment-52 DP2000 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:15:32 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=624#comment-52 Hi Ivy,

According to the Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary, biweekly can also mean occurring twice a week; therefore, both options are correct. I agree that option b is the preferred choice but that’s not what you asked.

Regards,
David.

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