When it comes to using farther and further, there are many differences that can help you to decide which one to use in your writing. You should consider the meaning, connotations, origin, and usage of each word to get the right one for your project. By doing this, you can be sure that your work will be effective and readable.
Origins
Further and farther are two words that have been used interchangeably for centuries, but have a different history. The OED claims that there is a preference for farther to mean “more distant” in some cases, while further is preferred in others.
Further began its life as a variant spelling of the Old English word furthor. It is a prehistoric derivative that originated from Germanic languages. It originally meant more ahead or superior. This is also the origin of the Old English adjective furthra.
Further is a verb that can be used to describe physical and figurative distances. In most cases, further is used as an adverb, which means that it is an adjective, or an adverbial extension of further.
Unlike farrer, further is not widely used as a verb, and its adverbial use is one of the more controversial uses of the word. Many speakers still use further as an adverb for referring to distance, although it is often replaced by a shorter word.
Good usage vs. popular usage
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Connotations
Farther and further are two very similar words, but they have a number of differences that make them unique. It’s easy to confuse them, but knowing the difference can help you understand English better.
Further is an adjective. The word means “more, additional, moreover, moreover,” and it’s also an adverb, meaning to advance.
For years, the OED has claimed that there’s a preference for “further” over “farther,” but recent published evidence suggests that they’re not necessarily equivalent. However, many usage guides still favor “further.”
Further and farther are similar in both meaning and sound. In fact, they are both frequently used interchangeably. That said, further is not as common as farther.
Many people use the words interchangeably, but this is not always a good idea. When you have a choice between the two, further should be your first choice.
A good rule of thumb is to use further for adjectives referring to “more, additional, moreover,” and farther for distances in space or time.
Synonyms
You may be wondering about the difference between farther and further. These two words are used as synonyms, but they have different meanings. It is important to know which one you should use.
The word farther refers to a greater distance away or a greater distance from something. As an adverb, it can also refer to a greater distance between two points. This is a good word for abstracts and ideas. But it can also be misused.
Further is an adverb that can refer to a greater amount of information or to a figurative sense of distance. In American English, it is preferred for use in figurative distances.
Often, people confuse the term farther with further. Generally, further is a verb and farther is an adverb. They are used in a similar way, but further is more common. However, they should not be confused. Each of them has its own definition and is used in different ways.