CONFUSAWORDS

Farther and Further

Literacy @ Denison -2006-2007 Sonia Sengsavang, Kelly Mackie

History: FURTHER & FARTHER

Further and Farther are derived from the following:

Old English; furthor

Old Frisian; further

Old Saxon; further

Old High German; furdar

Literacy @ Denison -2006-2007 Sonia Sengsavang, Kelly Mackie

Definition/Usage: FARTHER

ADVERB: Refers to physical or geographical distance.

Indicates physical advancement in distance

Used in a literal sense

Literacy @ Denison -2006-2007 Sonia Sengsavang, Kelly Mackie

Definition/Usage: FURTHER

ADVERB: Refers to more metaphorical or abstract situations

In addition

To a greater degree, or extent

Greater distance, in time or space

ADJECTIVE:

Additional; more

Literacy @ Denison -2006-2007 Sonia Sengsavang, Kelly Mackie

In Comparison:

1) We are farther from home than I had hoped we would be.

2) The walk from my new house to my new school is farther than the walk to Chuckie Cheese.

3) Can you just go farther down the street and buy me some ice cream?

1) I want to look further into the matter.

2) I don’t want to discuss this topic any further.

3) I believe that further research is needed before dissecting the specimen.

Literacy @ Denison -2006-2007 Sonia Sengsavang, Kelly Mackie

TIPS:

You Use further in more circumstances (greater degree, time, space) than farther (physical distance)

When in doubt, use further