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Writer's Haven => Writer's Workshop [Public] => Topic started by: Doglover on November 12, 2018, 05:40:54 PM

Title: Further or Farther?
Post by: Doglover 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.
Title: Re: Further or Farther?
Post by: Gerri Attrick 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
Title: Re: Further or Farther?
Post by: ashleycapes 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



Title: Re: Further or Farther?
Post by: elleoco 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.
Title: Re: Further or Farther?
Post by: David VanDyke 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.




Title: Re: Further or Farther?
Post by: Vijaya 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.
Title: Re: Further or Farther?
Post by: VanessaC 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
Title: Re: Further or Farther?
Post by: Doglover 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: