“Farther” vs. “Further”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “farther” and “further”

  • The main difference between these two words is that "farther" primarily refers to physical distance, while "further" relates to the advancement beyond a particular point.
  • While "farther" is a comparative distance, meaning it compares two physical distances, "further" is a comparative term that relates to advancement beyond a point.
  • In short, while "farther" is used to compare distance, "further" is used to compare advancement or extent.
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What is the definition of “farther” and “further”?

Farther
  • "Farther" means a greater distance of space or time.
  • It is commonly used to describe a physical distance that is measurable.
  • It can also denote the advancement of something, such as progress or development.
Further
  • "Further" signifies advancement to a greater extent or degree.
  • It is often used in a non-physical sense to signify an extension of something.
  • It suggests a deeper level or extent of something; for example, further analysis.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Further” is the more popular variant on the web.
Farther
130,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I am willing to travel farther for a better job opportunity.
  2. The marathon runner pushed herself to go farther than she ever had before.
  3. The stars in the sky seemed to be getting farther and farther away.
More popular
Further
3,900,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. We need to further discuss the details of the project.
  2. The teacher provided further instructions on how to complete the assignment.
  3. The researcher conducted further experiments to gather more conclusive results.
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