The New York Times | September 12, 2023
"Scientists peer deeper into space as new telescope reveals galaxies farther from Earth than ever seen before."
Further vs. Farther
The '30 Seconds' Difference At A Glance
'Further' and 'farther' are interchangeable when referring to distance, whether physical or metaphorical. However, only 'further' can mean "moreover," only 'further' can be a verb meaning "to advance," and 'further' is the preferred choice for "additional."
You can drive further or farther down the road, but only 'further' works in "to further your career" or "Further, we need to discuss costs."
A Deeper Look
While usage guides sometimes suggest that 'farther' is for physical distance and 'further' for figurative distance, actual usage shows both words are commonly used for both types of distance. What's more important are the unique uses of 'further'.
'Further' has several roles that 'farther' cannot fill: it can mean "moreover" or "additionally" at the start of a sentence, it's the standard choice when meaning "additional," and it's the only option when used as a verb meaning "to advance" or "promote."
When referring to any kind of distance, either word works, though 'further' is increasingly common in all contexts.
The store is further/farther than I remembered. Further, we need to discuss how to further our business goals with these further investments.
Common Usage Patterns
Interchangeable Uses (both words)
"Further/farther down the road"
"Nothing could be further/farther from the truth"
"Travel further/farther back in time"
Further Only
"Further to your point..."
"No further questions"
"To further one's interests"
Key Patterns
Starting sentences: Only "Further" for "moreover"
Verb form: Only "further" for advancement
"Additional": "Further" is standard
What Teachers Say
"In academic writing, 'further' is often the safer choice. It's never wrong, while 'farther' can sound odd in certain contexts, especially at the start of sentences or for additional points."
-- Marcus, Seattle
"When students ask which to use for distance, I tell them either works. The important thing is knowing when only 'further' will do, like in 'to further investigate' or 'further to that point.'"
-- Diana, Vancouver
"In business writing, 'further' has become standard for almost everything except literal distance measurements, where both are still common."
-- Paul, Melbourne
From The Headlines
The Guardian | May 15, 2016
"Company aims to further expand into eastern markets, citing growth opportunities."
Financial Times | March 8, 2011
"Further regulation needed as markets push into uncharted territory."
Test Yourself!
1. _______, we need to discuss the budget.
2. The company hopes to _______ its reach into global markets.
3. The hikers walked _______ than planned, and _______, they ran out of water.
