Further vs. Farther: Differences Between Further and Farther

“Farther” is the comparative degree of “far.” As an adverb, “farther” means “at, to, or by a greater distance.” As an adjective, “farther” means more distant from a point seen as central. Words like “far,” “farther,” and “farthest” connote quantifiable lengths.

Use “farther” to communicate a more advanced point. Below are some example sentences that use “farther” and explain why:

1. 1. Adverb: Use “farther” to describe measurable distances. For example, you might say, “My house is farther down the road.” You can also use “farther” to note the direction of physical distances, like “It was too hot in New York, so we traveled farther north to Vermont to escape the heat.”
2. 2. Adjective: As an adjective, farther can describe the distance between two points. For example, “Let’s go to the Anderson Mall; it’s farther away, but they have more stores to choose from.” The sentence implies there’s a mall nearer by; the Anderson Mall is a more advanced point and is farther away.

Use “further” to describe figurative distances and time. As an adjective, “further” means more or additional. As an adverb, “further” can behave similarly to “farther,” expressing “at, to, or by a greater distance.” “Further” can also be used as a verb, meaning “to advance, promote, or forward.”

When choosing to use “farther” or “further,” a good rule of thumb is to ask if you’re expressing physical or metaphorical distance. For the latter, use “further.” “Further” can be an adverb, adjective, or verb:

1. 1. Adverb: You can use further to describe metaphorical distance and time. You might say, “City life has taken her further and further away from her small-town roots.” Here, “further” is both an abstract distance between her and her former small-town life and passage of time. The American English phrase “without further delay” is an expression of time, meaning “quickly” or “right away.” For example, “The boss needs that file without further delay.”
2. 2. Adjective: As an adjective, “further” means “additional.” For example, “I read the report, but I have further questions I will bring up at our next meeting.”
3. 3. Verb: As a verb, “to further” means “to forward.” For example, “My cousin is furthering his studies at the university.”

“Further” and “farther” can be confusing words because they sound so similar, and it’s not uncommon for English speakers to misuse these near-homophones. In many ways, “further” and “farther” act like synonyms: They each express a greater extent but should not be used interchangeably. As a general rule, use “farther” to describe measurable distances and “further” to indicate an addition. If you can switch out “further” with the word “additionally,” that’s a way of knowing you are using “further” correctly.

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