Investors who purchase the bonds will receive interest payments every six months for the time period. In this example, interest will be paid to shareholders on 30 June and 31 December every year until the maturity of the bond. Ohio Pty Ltd will have to publish a semi-annual report on its finances. Investors who buy these bonds will receive interest payments twice in each of those years; in this case, once in June and once in December.
Practical Applications of Biannual and Semiannual
- In this article, we’ll teach you the differences between these two confusing terms and the best choice when describing something that happens twice a year.
- Breaking it down, “bi” stands for two, and “ennial” relates to years.
- Biennial is often confused with bi-annual, which means the same thing as semi-annual, it is something that happens twice a year.
- This association reinforces the idea of two occurrences per year.
So, let’s get a clear understanding of these terms and make sure you always use them right. Much of our research comes from leading organizations in the climate space, such as Project Drawdown and the International Energy Agency (IEA). This team of experts helps Carbon Collective maintain the highest level of accuracy and professionalism possible. Our team of reviewers are established professionals with years of experience in areas of personal finance and climate. We encourage you to share this article on Twitter and Facebook. Since semi- means “half,” semiweekly indicates that something is every half week or twice a week.
Phrases with ‘Semiannual’
In this article, I will clarify biannual vs. semiannual; as part of the discussion, I will include several examples of each word in a sentence to demonstrate its use in context. Using biannual or semiannual incorrectly can lead to disputes. Remembering the distinction between biannual and semiannual can be challenging.
How do you use the word semiannual in a sentence?
If a corporation pays a semiannual dividend to its shareholders, the shareholders will receive dividends twice yearly. (A corporation can choose how many dividends to distribute each year—if any.) Financial statements or reports are frequently published on a quarterly (four times per year) basis. It is rare that corporations publish financial statements only semiannually. They do, however, publish an annual report, which per the definition, occurs once every year. Sams Corporation decides to publish their financial statement on a semi-annual basis to coincide with the dividend payments. Companies that pay dividends can pay dividends on a semi-annual basis; dividends will then be paid twice a year.
Historical Background of the Terms
When discussing schedules, contracts, or events, clarity is essential. To help clarify that these words can both mean the same thing and still have their separate meanings, here are some example sentences you can use as references. They may also help prepare you for when you encounter this dispute in your own conversations. The problem that most people encounter when using these words is that, in some cases, both terms are correct and mean the same thing. Semiannual is also an adjective, and it also describes something that happens twice a year.
Semi means “half,” so in the context of semiannual it literally means “half year” or every six months. Biannual and semiannual are often used synonymously, meaning the same definition is applied to both. Since the prefix semi- refers to half or part or something, you can use it to remind yourself that something that is semiannual only goes part of a year before happening again.
You might wonder, “If both biannual and semiannual mean the same thing, why have two terms?” It’s a good question! Different fields and regions might prefer one term over the other. The key is to recognize that biannual vs semiannual both “semiannual” and “semi-annual” refer to events or actions happening two times a year. Now, let’s dive into “semiannual.” At first glance, it might seem similar to “biannual,” but there’s a difference.
I will also show you a memory tool that you can use next time you can’t remember whether you’re describing something that is biannual or semiannual. A simple calendar marking biannual events can clarify their frequency. While biannual and semiannual once had clearer distinctions, modern usage has blurred those lines. Context plays a significant role in understanding whether biannual or semiannual applies. Biannual means “twice a year,” as does semiannual, whereas biennial means “occurring every two years.”
