half-yearly
half-yearly — adjective
1. happening once every six months, or covering a period of six months — most often
happening once every six months, or covering a period of six months — most often used of reports, meetings, payments, or magazines issued on that schedule.
The bank sent Matthew a half-yearly statement showing every transaction since January.
attributive: half-yearly + financial document noun
Our school holds a half-yearly meeting where parents can talk to every teacher.
The charity publishes a half-yearly magazine with stories from the villages it supports.
Emre receives a half-yearly bonus on top of his normal monthly pay.
The doctor scheduled half-yearly check-ups for Nala after her heart surgery.
- biannual
same meaning, more common in American English; 'biannual' can be ambiguous so writers often spell it out
- semiannual
standard American equivalent, often used for company reports and dividends
- twice-yearly
plain everyday alternative when 'half-yearly' feels too formal
文法句型
half-yearly + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive). To say something happens at this rhythm with a verb, switch to the adverb 'half-yearly' or the phrase 'every six months'.
常見錯誤
half-yearly — adverb
1. at intervals of six months — once every half year, usually as a regular routine
at intervals of six months — once every half year, usually as a regular routine for things like payments, reports, or inspections.
Interest on the savings account is paid half-yearly, in June and December.
common pattern: verb + half-yearly + time slot
The committee meets half-yearly to review progress on the river clean-up project.
collocation: meet / report / pay + half-yearly
Dewi visits her parents in Bali half-yearly, usually around Lunar New Year and August.
Property tax in this town is collected half-yearly rather than in one annual bill.
The fire alarms in the office are inspected half-yearly by a city safety team.
- biannually
American-leaning equivalent; can be confused with 'biennially' (every two years), so writers often avoid it
- semiannually
standard American adverb for the same six-month cycle
- twice a year
plain phrase that everyone understands; preferred in informal speech
文法句型
verb + half-yearly
用法筆記
Sits after the verb it modifies, like other frequency adverbs of regular periodic action. Common with verbs about payments, meetings, and inspections; rare with verbs about one-off events.