174

Similar case in point: "bimonthly" means "twice a month." That makes sense.

But the definition for "bi-weekly" does not make sense.

What do you think?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] echodot@feddit.uk 24 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

It's because of British English, and the fact that American English seems to have dropped a word which is caused confusion.

Bi-weekly means two times a week.

Fortnightly means every 2 weeks. But American English seems to have lost the word fortnightly, so there is this ambiguity now.

[-] set_secret@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago

thanks for the explanation, as an Australian reading this I had no idea what was going on cause bi-weekly means bi-weekly here and fortnight is every two weeks.

Til Americans don't have fortnights...

[-] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

They don't have "scores" either at least anymore.

[-] Chriswild@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

We do, we're typically familiar with the concept it's just not something we say. Kinda like how we know what autumn is but we just call it fall.

It's kinda weird but I'm sure you know the feeling with some words you know of but it's kinda weird for people to use in a sentence.

[-] totallynotarobot@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

What's the adjective in American for "having to do with the season fall?"

[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 3 points 11 months ago

Autumnal. It's not used much.

[-] set_secret@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago

Don't they have scores when lots of people die? The news here only ever uses scores when it's referring to loss of life. like if a building collapsed. they'd say 'scores of people were killed today etc..'

[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 0 points 11 months ago

"Scores" just means "a lot". Nobody here uses "score" (singular) to mean 20.

[-] set_secret@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

wtf does 20 have to do with anything?

[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 1 points 11 months ago
[-] set_secret@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago
[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 1 points 11 months ago

So I was relying to a comment about scores. Do you not understand how conversation works?

[-] set_secret@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

not this one no

[-] Zoidberg@lemm.ee 2 points 11 months ago

Even worse is bisexual not meaning "having sex twice". Ask me how I know...

[-] nLuLukna@sh.itjust.works 1 points 11 months ago
[-] Zoidberg@lemm.ee 0 points 11 months ago

Hey, long time. Do you want to have sex again? No, it's my girlfriend's turn now...

[-] hayalci@fstab.sh 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Fortnightly FTW. We can always (try to) re-educate the masses!

[-] dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com -1 points 11 months ago

Incorrect. Bisexual doesnt mean twice per sex, it means 2 sexes.

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 0 points 11 months ago
this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2023
174 points (92.6% liked)

No Stupid Questions

2174 readers
2 users here now

There is no such thing as a Stupid Question!

Don't be embarrassed of your curiosity; everyone has questions that they may feel uncomfortable asking certain people, so this place gives you a nice area not to be judged about asking it. Everyone here is willing to help.


Reminder that the rules for lemmy.ca still apply!


Thanks for reading all of this, even if you didn't read all of this, and your eye started somewhere else, have a watermelon slice ๐Ÿ‰.


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS