Word Confusion: Triannual versus Triennial

Posted November 19, 2018 by kddidit in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

Revised as of
13 July 2023

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While both triannual and triennial are about the 3s, it’s how the time involved is measured that makes the difference.

That -annual is a pretty good tip-off that a single year is involved. When you modify this suffix with tri- to create triannual, it becomes an event that takes place three times in ONE year. And most experts recommend NOT using triannual. Instead, be more specific with three times a year or every four months. I know I’d be grateful to not have to stop and think!

An -ennial is also about a year, but it doesn’t break up that year. Instead, adding tri- modifies -ennial into a triennial event that takes place every three years.

You may also want to explore “Bi- vs Biannual vs Biennial“.

Word Confusions . . .

. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.

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Triannual	Triennial
EB Games Expo 2015 – Show Floor is Philip Terry Graham‘s own work is under the CC0 1.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — Strategicon will be triannual in 2023.	Art at Folkestone Triennial 2017 by Pam Fray is is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Geograph.org.uk. — The Folkestone is a triennial art festival.
Part of Grammar:
Adjective; Noun Plural for noun: triannual	Adjective; Noun Plural for noun: triennials
Three times a year Adjective: Done, occurring, issued, etc., three times a year Noun: A triannual publication, contest, etc.	Once every three years Adjective: Recurring every three years Lasting for or relating to a period of three years Noun: A visitation of an Anglican diocese by its bishop every three years A third anniversary
Examples:
Adjective: It’s merely a triannual estimate of value. I’d prefer we promote a triannual advertisement. The Fish and Game Commission conduct triannual evaluations of sport-fishing regulations. It’s a triannual program and not cheap. Noun: Can you write up the report for April’s triannual? No, no, I do my best to keep it to a triannual.	Adjective: Next week is the triennial meeting of the Association. Last year’s edition of the triennial World Congress for Alternatives to Animal Use drew more than 1,000 participants to Berlin and featured hundreds of presentations and talks. This prestigious triennial award, which carries a prize sum of $5,00,000, is presented to projects that combine design excellence with the humanistic spirit of Islam. Now one of your other policies is to increase the triennial funding of the corporation. Academy chairman, David Parkinson was delighted to receive the cheque and hear of the move to triennial funding. Noun: The challenge was placed before us all by a varied range of speakers throughout the Triennial. Is Father Johns going to the Triennial this year? Marge and I are celebrating our triennial next month.
Derivatives:
Adverb: triannually	Adverb: triennially Noun: triennium
History of the Word:
It was first recorded between 1630–40; tri- + annual.	Mid-16th century from the late Latin triennis, which is from the Latin tri- (three) + annus (year) + -al.

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.

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