Once a quarter is a phrase used to refer to something that happens four times a year. The spelling of "once" is /wʌns/ while "quarter" is /ˈkwɔː.tər/. The "w" sound in "once" represents the /w/ phoneme, which is a voiced labio-velar approximant. In "quarter", the "qu" sound represents the /kw/ phoneme, which is a voiceless labio-velar stop, while the "ar" sound represents the /ɔːr/ diphthong, which is an unrounded mid-back vowel followed by a rhotic consonant.
Once a quarter refers to something that occurs or is done once every quarter, which is a unit of time that represents one-fourth or 25% of a whole. In business and finance, a quarter typically refers to a three-month period. Therefore, once a quarter suggests that the event or activity takes place every three months, or four times within a year.
This phrase is commonly used in various contexts, such as financial reporting, performance evaluations, meetings, and other recurring events. For instance, a company may release its quarterly financial statements once a quarter, providing an overview of its financial performance during that specific three-month period. Additionally, individuals or employees may receive performance evaluations once a quarter, where their work and achievements are assessed every three months.
The term can also be applied to meetings or events that are scheduled on a regular basis. For instance, a company may hold a quarterly board meeting once a quarter to discuss important matters, review progress, and make decisions. Similarly, organizations may organize team meetings, training sessions, or conferences once a quarter to update employees and share relevant information.
Overall, once a quarter implies a cyclical occurrence that takes place every three months, allowing for regular assessment, evaluation, reporting, or event scheduling.