Know Your English (Feb2001)

Know your English

What is the difference between ``biannual'' and ``biennial''?

An event that is held ``annually'' takes place once a year. The word ``bi'', pronounced ``by'', means ``two''. So an event which is held ``biannually'' is one that is held twice a year. Here is an example.
* The Chairman decided to make the Board Meeting a biannual event.
In this case, the Board will meet twice a year - perhaps every six months.
A ``biennial'' event, on the other hand, is one that takes place once in two years.
* The Chairman decided to make the Board Meeting a biennial event.
In this case, the Board will meet once every two years. If it meets this year, its next meeting will be in 2003.
The stress in both words is on the second syllable. The ``e'' in ``biennial'' is like the ``e'' in ``set'', ``bet'', and ``get''. One of the ways of pronouncing the second ``i'' is like the ``y'' in ``yes'', ``yellow'', and ``young''. The final ``a'' is like the ``a'' in ``China''.

Source:
The Hindu daily, Tuesday, February 06, 2001