Distinguishing Between Further & Farther

The distinction between further and farther exists in terms of their usage. Although the two words are often confused, understanding their specific usage can eliminate this confusion. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, both words give the same meaning, which is “at, to, or by a greater distance.” However, further is typically used for non-physical distance, while farther is used for physical distance.

What does Further mean?

Further is primarily used for non-physical distance and can encompass a wide range of topics, such as more time or more effort. It is often associated with the meaning “more” of something. For example:

– He further states that it is impossible to do.
– She further mentions that it is easy to do.

In both sentences, further refers to non-physical distance and is used in the sense of “more.” The word further is also sometimes used in the sense of “additional,” as in:

– He cooked the soup for a further five minutes.
– She made further changes.

In these examples, further is used as an adjective to mean “additional.”

Key Takeaways

• Further is used for non-physical distance, while farther is used for physical distance.
• Further can mean more time, more effort, etc., whereas farther relates to more meters, more inches, more feet, etc.
• Further can sometimes be used as an adjective, and its usage is increasingly replacing that of farther.

What does Farther mean?

Farther is always related to physical distance, as shown in the following examples:

– The village is farther than the hill.
– It is difficult to go farther.

In both sentences, farther is used in the sense of physical distance, referring to measurements such as more miles, more meters, or more feet. However, further seems to be increasingly used instead of farther.

What is the difference between Further and Farther?

• Further is used for non-physical distance, while farther is used for physical distance.
• Further means more time, more effort, etc., whereas farther means more meters, more inches, more feet, etc.
• Further is sometimes used as an adjective and is increasingly being used instead of farther.

These are the essential differences between the two words, further and farther.