Farther and farther are two words that have similar, but not identical, meanings. They are used as both adverbs and adjectives, and they can have either literal or figurative distance-related meanings.
English speakers often use these words interchangeably, but there are some cases where it is important to make a distinction. Here are some quick tips to help you remember the difference.
Definitions
Using the right word is essential for writing correctly. Whether it’s an essay, story, or email, you want to avoid typos that can cause confusion. Luckily, Grammarly will catch these errors and help you correct them.
While some writers use the words farther and farther interchangeably, they are actually distinct from each other. Farther is an adverb and an adjective that can refer to either figurative or physical distance.
However, it is important to remember that farther should only be used when you know the actual distance between locations. Otherwise, it can be confusing to the reader and may sound ambiguous.
Usage
Further and farther are two of the most commonly misused English words. Many people think they have the same meaning, but it is important to know the difference between them. Content writers and speakers need to know how to distinguish them in a sentence to ensure they have the correct meaning.
The word farther refers to actual or measurable distances. It is also used as an adjective to mean more or additional. However, it can not be used as a verb.
For most of its history, the word farther was used interchangeably with farthest. Although some usage guides still recommend keeping farther reserved for physical distance, there is enough figurative usage to make the distinction unnecessary in most cases.
Synonyms
Farther and farther are both homographs, or words that look very similar to one another. They also share the same pronunciation, meaning that they can be easily confused by writers and speakers. However, they have different spellings and meanings. Farther is used to refer to physical distance, while further is used for figurative distance. It is important to differentiate between the two so that you can use them correctly.
Getting these words mixed up is easy, but it’s important to keep them separate. It can affect the tone of your writing, and it’s best to be consistent with your usage. Grammarly is a great tool to help you stay consistent, as it can catch common mistakes and suggest alternatives. It can even proofread your work for you! Get a free trial of Grammarly today to see how it can make your writing shine. You can also check out the Grammarly blog for more tips on improving your writing.
Contradictions
In some cases, the difference between farther and further isn’t that clear. While most usage guides still recommend using farther for a measurable distance and further for a figurative distance, there are some exceptions to the rule.
For example, many British English speakers use farther and further interchangeably as adverbs to mean “more distant.” In addition, some writers use both words to describe a figurative distance that could be either spatial or temporal.
In the case of farther and further, Grammarly is unable to address these logical inconsistencies in writing. This is why human editors are often necessary. In this instance, the human editor caught several grammatical errors that Grammarly missed, including a comma that should have been an Oxford comma (a type of comma that is required in some writing style guides). They also revised the technical instructions to make them more logical and easier to understand. They even removed personal information that shouldn’t be included in a document intended for professional use.