Say you have several options for how often you get paid:
- Weekly
- Biweekly
- Monthly
- Tenthly
- Annually
When would "tenthly" occur?
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Where have you heard tenthly used in this sense? Also be aware that biweekly, for instance, has two senses that contradict each other: twice a week and every two weeks. Using biweekly is currently discouraged because of its ambiguous meaning. (Even though it is still used anyway.)– Jason BassfordJul 25, 2018 at 18:47
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1I don't believe "tenthly" describes a pattern of payment. The only thing I can see it being used for is if you're listing points and numbering them off, you would say "firstly," "secondly,"..."tenthly," etc.– jmrpinkJul 25, 2018 at 18:48
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I would replace "biweekly" with "fortnightly" but the time period "fortnight" seems to be dropping out of use.– Weather VaneJul 25, 2018 at 18:55
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Six months, half-yearly, every ten months, every ten weeks.– LambieJul 25, 2018 at 19:07
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@JasonBassford I modified the scenario I saw it in, which was educational material about saving for retirement. You can contribute to your 401k Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, Tenthly, or Annually.– Sam RuebyJul 26, 2018 at 20:41
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1 Answer
I didn't realize that tenthly was a real word. I suspect that given that it's uncommon in any context, its meaning here would have to be defined by the person using it. That is, it could mean on the tenth of the month, the tenth month (illegal in the US generally speaking, I believe), or perhaps every tenth day.
So without defining exactly what is meant, there is no way to determine its place in your list.
As a side note, I see by its placement in your list that you most likely mean every two weeks when you write biweekly, rather than its alternate meaning of twice a week. Similarly, based on your placement of tenthly and absent any other information, I would assume it means every ten months.
answered Jul 25, 2018 at 18:47
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Tenthly is as much a word as firstly is. merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenthly– user305707Jul 25, 2018 at 19:13
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Or, considering paid firstly if you are paid tenthly you will be the 10th person to be paid. Jul 25, 2018 at 19:21
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@NathanM. -- I realize it is a word; I just hadn't ever heard or seen it and it never would have occurred to me that it was. Jul 25, 2018 at 19:22
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@WeatherVane -- I suppose that works, but I think I would be more likely to say paid first or paid tenth (whether or not that's correct.) Jul 25, 2018 at 19:23
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I don’t think that it should be used, just as firstly and secondly shouldn’t be. Especially not when first and second and tenth are much more prevalent than their -ly counterparts. merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/first-or-firstly– user305707Jul 25, 2018 at 19:28