this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2023
643 points (99.8% liked)

196

17971 readers
751 users here now

Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.


Rule: You must post before you leave.



Other rules

Behavior rules:

Posting rules:

NSFW: NSFW content is permitted but it must be tagged and have content warnings. Anything that doesn't adhere to this will be removed. Content warnings should be added like: [penis], [explicit description of sex]. Non-sexualized breasts of any gender are not considered inappropriate and therefore do not need to be blurred/tagged.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us on our matrix channel or email.

Other 196's:

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Metafalls_@beehaw.org 14 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Twice.

As a rule of thumb: bi is twice, semi is every other.

[–] Squirrel@thelemmy.club 24 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (4 children)

"Semi" literally means "half." A semi-annual event occurs every half year, i.e. twice each year. A semicircle is half of a circle; there are two to a full circle. Of this one, I am certain.

"Bi" typically means "two" or "twice." Its usage is highly inconsistent in terms of frequency. I think its proper usage would mean "every other" (i.e. every two), but I don't know for sure. Either way, the inconsistency of its usage makes it ambiguous.

For the most part, confusion about usage comes in with monthly or weekly events. It sounds awkward to use "semi" in these cases -- honestly, who can say "semi-weekly" without sounding like a prick? -- so "bi" is typically used, thus exacerbating confusion.

Of course, I sound like a prick through all of this comment, so what can I say?

[–] Bazz@feddit.de 2 points 2 years ago

You are right. A biweekly meeting is every other week. Bi also just means two. Look at bicycle... yeah English pronunciation fucks it up but it literally means two wheels.

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (3 replies)