Meaning and Usage of 'Monthly Basis'
A comprehensive guide to definition, usage, nuances, and examples.
Introduction
The phrase "monthly basis" is a staple in English communication, appearing frequently in professional, financial, legal, and everyday contexts. Its usage spans from employment contracts and subscription services to financial planning and routine reporting.
Despite its ubiquity, the phrase carries subtle nuances and variations depending on context, register, and regional dialect. This report explores the definition, grammatical structure, common collocations, and application of the phrase across various domains.
Definition of "Monthly Basis"
The phrase "monthly basis" refers to a recurring frequency or schedule that occurs once every month, or at intervals of one month. It is most commonly used as part of the prepositional phrase "on a monthly basis," indicating that an action is performed, reviewed, or renewed every month.
Legal Definition: In contracts, it often refers to a period encompassing all days in a calendar month, including weekends and holidays, or the practice of making payments within each calendar month.
Summary of Terms
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Happening or produced once every month | "Monthly report" |
| Basis | Method, system, or principle according to which something is done | "On a regular basis" |
| Monthly Basis | A recurring schedule or system that repeats every month | "Reviewed on a monthly basis" |
| On a Monthly Basis | Adverbial phrase indicating frequency of once per month | "Paid on a monthly basis" |
Grammar and Usage
Grammatical Structure
The phrase is most commonly used as an adverbial modifier: Preposition ("on") + Article ("a") + Adjective ("monthly") + Noun ("basis").
Example: "The team meets on a monthly basis."
Register and Formality
"On a monthly basis" is considered more formal and is used in professional and legal contexts. In informal writing, "monthly" or "every month" is preferred for brevity.
- Formal: "Performance evaluations are conducted on a monthly basis."
- Informal: "We check in every month."
Common Collocations
The phrase often appears with verbs indicating recurring actions or obligations.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Paid on a monthly basis | "Employees are paid on a monthly basis." |
| Reviewed on a monthly basis | "Budgets are reviewed on a monthly basis." |
| Renewed on a monthly basis | "Subscriptions are renewed on a monthly basis." |
| Scheduled on a monthly basis | "Meetings are scheduled on a monthly basis." |
| Calculated on a monthly basis | "Interest is calculated on a monthly basis." |
Usage in Different Contexts
Used to describe recurring tasks, meetings, and reporting cycles. It signals structure in organizational processes.
"Performance evaluations are conducted on a monthly basis."
Crucial for payment schedules, interest calculations, and financial reporting. Refers to fixed, recurring obligations.
"Loan repayments must be made on a monthly basis."
Central to billing and service delivery for SaaS, streaming, and utilities. Offers flexibility compared to annual billing.
"Subscriptions are renewed on a monthly basis."
Synonyms and Alternatives
There are several alternatives to "monthly basis" depending on the desired formality.
- Monthly Neutral
- Every month / Each month Neutral
- At monthly intervals Formal
- In monthly installments Finance
Stylistic Tip
Avoid redundancy. "I pay my bills on a monthly basis" can often be shortened to "I pay my bills monthly" unless strict formality is required.
Legal and Contractual Usage
In legal documents, the phrase provides clarity for enforceability. It often defines payment due dates, grace periods, and renewal terms.
"The Borrower agrees to make monthly payments on a monthly basis, due on the 1st day of each month."
Regional Variations
While understood globally, there are subtle differences:
- British English: Dates are Day/Month/Year. Collective nouns may take plural verbs ("The committee meet on a monthly basis").
- American English: Dates are Month/Day/Year. Collective nouns usually take singular verbs ("The committee meets on a monthly basis").
Common Mistakes and Pitfalls
| Mistake Type | Incorrect Usage | Correct Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Redundancy | "We review our progress on a monthly basis." (Wordy) | "We review our progress monthly." |
| Misplaced Modifier | "I monthly pay my rent basis." | "I pay my rent on a monthly basis." |
| Incorrect Form | "The subscription is renewed monthly basis-wise." | "The subscription is renewed on a monthly basis." |
Key Takeaways
- ✓ Definition: "Monthly basis" implies something occurs every month.
- ✓ Register: It is formal and best suited for professional, financial, and legal contexts.
- ✓ Style: Use "monthly" for conciseness in informal writing to avoid wordiness.
- ✓ Legal: Contracts often explicitly define "monthly basis" to avoid ambiguity regarding holidays and weekends.
References
- Ludwig.guru: "a monthly basis"
- Ludwig.guru: "on monthly basis"
- Cobrief: Monthly payment overview
- TextRanch: "on a monthly basis" vs "on monthly basis"
- Grammarly: Formal vs. Informal Writing
- Ludwig.guru: "on a monthly basis"
- LanguageTool: Why Wordiness Weakens Writing
- Microsoft: Reduce wordiness to increase impact
- GenieAI: How would you define "Monthly Basis" in a legal contract?
- Bankrate: Compound Interest Calculator
- ReliaBills: Monthly vs Annual Subscription Billing
- LegalTemplates: Month to Month Lease Agreement
- LegalClarity: How to Write a Month-to-Month Lease Agreement
- APSU Writing Center: British vs. American English
- British Council: British English and American English
- Wikipedia: Comparison of American and British English
- Grammarly: What Are Adverbs of Frequency?
- EnglishClub: Adverbs of Frequency
- MonthlyBasis: Common mistakes in sales analysis