Trimonthly

Trimonthly is a term used to describe events or publications that occur at three-month intervals. In standard usage it means every three months, which makes it effectively equivalent to quarterly. However, the term is sometimes read as three times per month, which creates ambiguity.

Etymology: from tri- meaning three and monthly. The sense of every three months emerges from the alignment with three-month periods in calendars and fiscal cycles.

Usage and guidance: Because trimonthly can be ambiguous, many style guides advise avoiding it when precise frequency matters; prefer every three months or quarterly.

Context: It is used in publishing schedules, financial reports, and project planning. Example usage: The journal is published trimonthly. The audit is conducted on a trimonthly basis. Some editors prefer to use clearer phrases to prevent misinterpretation.

Related terms include quarterly and bimonthly, which themselves can be ambiguous in different contexts. To ensure clarity, writers often substitute "every three months" or "quarterly" depending on the intended meaning and audience.

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