Further vs Farther
Published January 23, 2023. Updated January 23, 2023.
Further and farther are two words that sound similar but have different meanings. Both function as adjectives and adverbs, yet they refer to different types of distances. Further describes something that is “at a greater distance which is not measurable or is non-physical.” Farther, on the other hand, describes something that is “at a greater distance which is physical and measurable.”
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Further (adjective/adverb)
At a greater distance which is not measurable or is non-physical.
Examples:
(Adjective) – The concepts covered in the upper division classes require further knowledge of the topic than what I currently have.
(Adverb) – I don’t think I will be able to carry this conversation any further without a lawyer present.
In both examples, further is being used to describe the extent or depth of something. However, that extent cannot be measured, as it is within the context of a non-physical space.
Farther (adjective/adverb)
At a greater distance which is physical and measurable.
Examples:
(Adjective) – My house is farther from my new job than I would like.
(Adverb) – If we travel farther tonight, we may reach our destination by sunset.
In these examples, the distance traveled is clearly measurable. In the first instance, the job’s distance from the home can be measured, as it is a literal physical difference. In the second example, while there is no actual location of where the measurement is occurring, because the subject is traveling physical distance, farther is the correct adverb to use.
Main Points
- Further is an adjective and adverb that describes the extent of something that is non-physical.
- Farther is an adjective and adverb that describes the extent of something that is measurable.
- Remember that further is related to something non-physical or metaphorical, whereas farther is related to something physical.