Author Topic: Further or Farther?  (Read 2037 times)

Doglover

Further or Farther?
« on: November 12, 2018, 05:40:54 PM »
What do you think? Both sound right to me, but I'm sure they can't be.
 

Gerri Attrick

Re: Further or Farther?
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2018, 08:21:19 PM »
My understanding (such as it is!) is that both are correct, but farther is almost unknown in UK English.

Further than that, I’m not prepared to go.  Grin
 
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ashleycapes

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Re: Further or Farther?
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2018, 08:29:19 PM »
Farther tends to be for physical distance

Further is more when we want to describe figurative distance/degrees of separation




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elleoco

Re: Further or Farther?
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2018, 09:21:27 PM »
Farther tends to be for physical distance

Further is more when we want to describe figurative distance/degrees of separation

That's my understanding from looking it up, although I'll have to admit I always like the sound of further better.

David VanDyke

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Re: Further or Farther?
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2018, 02:03:22 AM »
The technical rule is simple. Farther is literal distance, further is conceptual distance.

https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/further-versus-farther

But, common usage in the UK is to use further even when farther is more correct. I've noticed this in watching a lot of British TV. It bugs me a little, but probably won't bother the average reader.




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Those who prefer their English sloppy have only themselves to thank if the advertisement writer uses his mastery of the vocabulary and syntax to mislead their weak minds.

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Vijaya

Re: Further or Farther?
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2018, 02:44:06 AM »
The way I remember it is easy. Far has to do with distance, so use farther for physical distance. For all other cases use fur.


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VanessaC

Re: Further or Farther?
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2018, 02:57:02 AM »
Yep, like everyone else - farther for distance and further for everything else, but as long as it's spelled more or less correctly, if I'm enjoying the book I might not notice.  Grin
     



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Doglover

Re: Further or Farther?
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2018, 05:19:52 PM »
Well, that's really interesting. I never really thought much about it before, thought perhaps both were correct, but apparently not. You never get too old to learn something new!  :goodpost: