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How do you know when to use further vs. farther when they essentially mean the same thing?
Further and farther are two commonly confused words, but there is a subtle difference that will help you decide which one to use.
Keep reading to the end of this blog post to take the mini quiz and cement what you learn.
Table of Contents
What’s the Difference Between Further and Farther?
Farther refers to physical distance, e.g., miles, kilometers, etc. Further refers to figurative or metaphorical distance, e.g., time, to a greater degree. Further can also be used to mean furthermore, moreover, additionally, etc.
One trick to deciding whether you should use further or farther is to remember that farther contains the word far, which relates to physical distance.
Occasionally it can be difficult to decide whether you mean physical distance or figurative distance, so if you’re not sure, use further to be safe.
Further vs. Farther Examples
How do you use farther and further in a sentence?
Examples of further in a sentence:
Look no further; it’s right here.
You could further your career if only you were willing to brownnose the boss.
She read for a further hour before going asleep.
Examples of farther in a sentence:
We traveled farther down the road until we were truly lost.
The farther north you go, the colder it gets.
The haunted house was at the farther end of town.
Grammar Posts
Different From vs. Different Than
Is It Further from the Truth or Farther from the Truth?
Nothing could be further/farther from the truth. Which is correct?
The answer is further from the truth because it is not referencing a physical distance.
However, it should be noted that Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary includes entries for both. Some people would argue that it is referring to a metaphorical distance, so it’s a gray area.
According to Merriam-Webster, the words have been used interchangeably for much of their history.
Is It Further down the Road or Farther down the Road?
He walked further/farther down the road. Which is correct?
The answer is “He walked farther down the road” because it is referring to a physical distance.
What about if “further/farther down the road” is referring to a time in the future?
Example: We’ll deal with that issue further down the road.
In this case, the correct answer would be further because it’s not referring to a physical distance but a figurative one.
Does Money Go Further or Farther?
She made her money go further/farther by using coupons. Which is correct?
The answer is “She made her money go further by using coupons” because it is referring to a figurative distance.
Is It Look No Further or Farther?
If you love sun, sea, and sand, you need look no further/farther than Spain for your vacation. Which is correct?
The answer is “look no further.” Although this might sound like it is referring to a physical distance because it mentions a place (Spain), it’s actually referring to a figurative distance. Look no further means you can stop searching.
Further or Farther Quiz
Choose the correct word in each sentence. You can find the answers at the bottom of this blog post.
- Look further/farther into the conditions before you commit.
- He walked further/farther into the forest until we couldn’t see him.
- She had never run further/farther than a mile before.
- Do you need to do further/farther research on this topic?
- We received no further/farther details on the matter.
Final Thoughts on Further vs. Farther
The distinction between the two words is subtle and is becoming less pronounced over time, particularly in British English. But as always, if you don’t want to raise any eyebrows, it might be safer to stick to using farther for physical distance and further for figurative distance.
Time to Update Your Grammar Knowledge?
If you’re anything like me, you have no recollection of learning grammar at school at all. Or maybe you’ve been holding onto grammar myths you learned in school like they’re gospel. Language changes over time and minds need to be refreshed of the rules. My favorite resource for updating your grammar knowledge is Grammar Lion. I found this course easy to understand and fun to work through.
Commas tripping you up? Take this free comma course to refresh your knowledge.
Check out my review of Grammar Lion here.
Further vs. Farther Quiz Answers
- Look further into the conditions before you commit.
- He walked farther into the forest until we couldn’t see him.
- She had never run farther than a mile before.
- Do you need to do further research on this topic?
- We received no further details on the matter.
Punctuation Posts
How to Use an Ellipsis: Chicago vs. AP Style
En Dash vs. Em Dash: When and How to Use Them
How to Use an Apostrophe (and Mistakes You Need to Avoid)
How to Use Commas (and Mistakes to Avoid)
Colon vs. Semicolon: When and How to Use Them
How to Use Quotation Marks (and the Difference between Single Quotes vs. Double Quotes)
