# Grammar question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/685311>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 4, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/685311 "2014-04-04T02:49:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/685311/61 "2014-04-17T16:47:49Z")

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Furthermore, the AP style guide _specifically defines “biannual” to mean every two years._ Here it is from my edition:

> [@](#):
>
> **biannual, biennial** - _Biannual_ means twice a year and is a synonym for the word semiannual.
> 
> _Biennial_ means every two years.

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**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/685311/62 "2014-04-17T16:55:30Z")

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Do you mean “specifically defines “biennial” to mean every two years”?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/685311/63 "2014-04-17T17:04:44Z")

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> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> Do you mean “specifically defines “biennial” to mean every two years”?

:smack:

Actually, I meant to write “specifically defines ‘biannual’ to mean every six months.”

At any rate rate, if the publication is edited by copy editors for a publication that is based on the Associated Press Stylebook (which is most American editorial publications and news services, although individual companies may have their own tweaks to the Associated Press guidelines), then “biannual” is proscribed to mean one thing only: occurring every six months. Now, to avoid potential confusion, the copy editor does have the option of changing it to “semiannual” or, simply, “twice yearly” (or similar), but “biannual” is absolutely kosher, too.

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