Annual vs Yearly
Annual and Yearly are two words that are often confused as words that give the same meaning. Strictly speaking the two words have different connotations and applications as well.
One of the main differences between the usage of annual and yearly is that the word ‘annual’ is more used as an adjective, whereas the word ‘yearly is used quite often as adverb. It is generally used in the sense of ‘every year’. The word ‘yearly’ is used along with the verb and explains the action as in the following sentences.
1. I paid the fees yearly.
2. I went there yearly once.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word ‘yearly’ is used along with the verb. In the first sentence, it is used along with the verb ‘paid’, and in the second sentence, the word ‘yearly’ is used along with the verb ‘went’. In a few cases, the word ‘yearly’ is used also as an adjective as in the expressions, ‘yearly subscription’, ‘yearly bonus’, and the like.
On the other hand, the word ‘annual’ is used primarily as an adjective as in the sentences
1. The principal read out the annual report.
2. You should attend the annual fare in the city.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word ‘annual’ is used as an adjective. It is interesting to note that the word ‘annual’ is used in the sense of ‘pertaining to the year’. On the other hand, the word ‘yearly’ is used in the sense of ‘once in a year’ as in the sentence ‘You can pay the premium yearly’. The word ‘annual’ is used in the sense of ‘by the year’. It is felt by the experts of language that both these words are wrongly interchanged. As a matter of fact they are not so.