Further vs Farther
Mastering the difference between these distance-related words
Summary
"Farther" refers to physical distance - how much more distant something is in space."Further" refers to figurative distance - advancement in degree, time, or progress. While both relate to distance, "farther" is about physical space, and "further" is about metaphorical advancement.
✅ Correct Usage
- • The store is farther than I thought
- • Let's discuss this further
- • I can throw the ball farther
- • We need to investigate further
❌ Incorrect Usage
- • The store is further than I thought
- • Let's discuss this farther
- • I can throw the ball further
- • We need to investigate farther
Definitions
Farther (Physical Distance)
Refers to physical distance in space:
- • Space: "The city is farther away"
- • Distance: "I can walk farther"
- • Location: "The store is farther north"
- • Measurement: "The ball went farther"
Further (Figurative Distance)
Refers to advancement in degree, time, or progress:
- • Progress: "Let's go further with this idea"
- • Degree: "I can't go further"
- • Time: "We'll discuss this further"
- • Extent: "The situation went further"
Examples in Context
Using "Farther"
"The airport is farther from downtown than the train station."
"I can run farther than I could last year."
"The mountain peak is much farther than it appears."
Using "Further"
"We need to investigate this matter further."
"Let's discuss this topic further tomorrow."
"I can't go any further with this project."
Memory Tricks
- • Farther has "far" - think of physical distance
- • Further has "fur" - think of advancement and progress
- • Farther = Far (both have "far")
- • Further = Future (both have "fur")
Related Words
Similar to Farther:
more distant, beyond, away, remote, distant
Similar to Further:
more, additional, extra, beyond, advanced
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use "further" and "farther" interchangeably?
A: No, they have different meanings and should not be used interchangeably. "Farther" refers to physical distance in space, while "further" refers to figurative distance like advancement in degree, time, or progress. Using them incorrectly will change the meaning of your sentence.
When should I use "farther"?
A: Use "farther" when referring to physical distance in space. Examples include "The store is farther away," "I can walk farther," or "The ball went farther." Think of it as measuring actual physical distance that you could measure with a ruler or map.
When should I use "further"?
A: Use "further" when referring to figurative distance like advancement in degree, time, or progress. Examples include "Let's discuss this further," "We need to investigate further," or "I can't go any further." Think of it as metaphorical advancement.
Can you give me a sentence using both words correctly?
A: "The hiking trail goes much farther than we expected, so we'll need to discuss our plans further before continuing." Notice that the trail has physical distance (farther), while our discussion involves figurative advancement (further).
What about "furthermore" and "farthermore"?
A: "Furthermore" is a correct word meaning "in addition" or "moreover," and it's related to "further" (figurative advancement). "Farthermore" is not a word in English. This follows the same pattern: "further" is used for figurative meanings, while "farther" is only used for physical distance.