:)

..., so it is hard to tell with absolute certainty what the writer meant. My guess would be identical with yours. I would consider the word "one" superfluous. Typically, one would say, "every year."

"Every other year" would mean "every two years."

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Note added at 2004-02-12 20:13:55 (GMT)
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On your note to Pablo:

If the text lists time periods (\"every month\", \"every three months\", \"every year\" \"every one year\"), that would give me a pause. Why would anyone list \"every one year\" (idomatic or not) if \"every year\" is already listed? I would immediately consult with the client and not wait until they question my translation. The job is now done, so that may be a moot point. Your question is only about the usage. The answer to that is that they are wrong, but I hope you can see my other point as well.

According to an English mother tounge friend, your client doesn't have a clue, i.e. you are right. Saying it means every second years "is ridiculous" :-)

Perhaps that piece of sentence was part of something like: ...you will be awarded with a CD player for every one year (one-whole-year) subscription to our magazine...

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Note added at 2004-02-12 20:03:49 (GMT)
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They are wrong: \"one-year\" could mean \"one complete year\" but it is for sure that \"one\" can not mean \"two\".

Best regards

Since "every one year" is unusual English, to say the least, it seems possible to me that this is itself a translation - and not by someone whose mother tongue is English. Perhaps, just perhaps, your client has access to the original text, and perhaps the "every one year" is a mistake, and perhaps in the original original which your manager has read and understood, the phrase does indeed mean every other year....?

you'd better ask your client, anyway ;-)))))))))

ciaooooooooooooooooo

If your client's explanation was that it was 2 years between checks, then they surely meant the word "other" instead of "one". Speaking of google hits, the expression "every other year" appears 208,000 times.