Further/farther

nancy sv · Apr 8, 2008

What's the difference?

Sage · Apr 8, 2008

Farther is related to distance. Further is not.

CaroGirl · Apr 8, 2008

Farther is for distance, as in: His house was farther from the school than mine.

Further means in addition to, as in: Further to our discussion on the mating habits of albino rats; or Furthermore, I believe albino rats to be vile creatures.

Willowmound · Apr 8, 2008

Farther is American. Further is British. (Point me to the dictionary entry that says something else.)

CaroGirl · Apr 8, 2008

Willowmound said:
Farther is American. Further is British. (Point me to the dictionary entry that says something else.)

Well, I've never heard even an American say, "farthermore" or "farther to our discussion". Although I have heard "further" used for distance, as if it's interchangeable with farther. But that doesn't make it right.

Sage · Apr 8, 2008

Willowmound said:
Farther is American. Further is British. (Point me to the dictionary entry that says something else.)

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=farther

Quite a few here

Willowmound · Apr 8, 2008

I meant further used for distance.

Willowmound · Apr 8, 2008

Sage said:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=farther

Quite a few here

Not really, no.

far·ther or fur·ther, far·thest or fur·thest. –adverb 1.at or to a great distance; a long way off; at or to a remote point: We sailed far ahead of the fleet.

Willowmound · Apr 8, 2008

Etymology Online says:

"There is no historical basis for the notion that farther is of physical distance and further of degree or quality."

They're interchangeable. "Farther" is the newer word.

The British/American thing might have been something I've dreamed...

CaroGirl · Apr 8, 2008

Willowmound said:
Farther is American. Further is British. (Point me to the dictionary entry that says something else.)

Do you mean that Americans are simply more likely to use further for distance? Or are you saying that Americans always use further for distance to the exclusion of the word farther? Because I don't believe that's a correct statement.

Willowmound · Apr 8, 2008

CaroGirl said:
Do you mean that Americans are simply more likely to use further for distance?

Probably

Sage · Apr 8, 2008

Usage notes are handy

Usage Note: Since the Middle English period many writers have used farther and further interchangeably. According to a relatively recent rule, however, farther should be reserved for physical distance and further for nonphysical, metaphorical advancement. Thus 74 percent of the Usage Panel prefers farther in the sentence If you are planning to drive any farther than Ukiah, you'd better carry chains, and 64 percent prefers further in the sentence We won't be able to answer these questions until we are further along in our research. In many cases, however, the distinction is not easy to draw. If we speak of a statement that is far from the truth, for example, we should also allow the use of farther in a sentence such as Nothing could be farther from the truth. But Nothing could be further from the truth is so well established as to seem a fixed expression.

nancy sv · Apr 8, 2008

Gosh! Glad I posted - I've wondered about that one for a while now.

Polenth · Apr 8, 2008

Willowmound said:
Farther is American. Further is British. (Point me to the dictionary entry that says something else.)

I didn't know that farther was a word till this thread. I've always used further for both meanings, and never had an English teacher complain.

I also pronounce it as further for both meanings... someone that pronounced it as farther would sound a bit odd in this area. It doesn't match the local accent.

So I wouldn't discount the idea of regional variation.

Willowmound · Apr 9, 2008

I use further exclusively. American usage notes are of course none of my business.

Mr Flibble · Apr 10, 2008

Polenth said:
I also pronounce it as further for both meanings... someone that pronounced it as farther would sound a bit odd in this area. It doesn't match the local accent.

So I wouldn't discount the idea of regional variation.

I concur. Anyone saying farther round here would get 'What's your Dad got to do with it?'

Tristis · Apr 10, 2008

Suzette Haden Elgin, comical linguist that she is, wrote the novel Furthest published by Ace Publications NY, 1971

Good SF about this very topic

Mr. Fix · Apr 10, 2008

1. The further I go down this road the farther I get from home.

2. The farther I go down this road the further I get from home.

Had to think about this one for a while. It can be confusing. I like the #1 version, but really, I cannot tell the difference.

JoNightshade · Apr 10, 2008

I jumped into this thread hoping to have the issue cleared up in my mind. So much for that.

girlyswot · Apr 10, 2008

Another Brit confirming that I'd really only use 'further' for both distance and for metaphorical concepts.

maestrowork · Apr 10, 2008

Personally I believe farther is for physical distance and futher is for anything else (abstract). But I tend to just use further anyway.

Just be consistent.

Death Wizard · Apr 10, 2008

I might walk farther down the road, but I'm going to thinking further before I do.

Further/farther

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